Uganda: MTN Nyege Nyege line-up announced

This fourth edition places special emphasis on South African and Tanzanian music, and  features a line-up of more than 300 artists from 30 countries across the continent and diaspora.

The main acts include South Africans Sho Madjozi, Rude Boyz, Dominowe and Phatstoki as well as Tanzanians Rehema Tahiri, Jagwa Music and Msafiri Zawose. Other notable acts from Africa are Nigerien Tuareg band Etran de l'Air and Kenyan rumba group Les Mangelepa.

Artists from outside the continent include Mika Oki (France) and Uriel Barthelemi (France), Giant Swan (US), Juliana Huxtable (US) and Jlin (US) DJ Marcelle (Netherlands), Errorsmith (Germany) and JASSS (Spain), while Nkisi (UK), Bonaventure (DRC) and Stella Chiweshe (Zimbabwe) will represent the diaspora.

The festival has also confirmed the launch of two new stages: the Dark Star Stage, which will focus on electronic music, and the Spirit of Uganda Stage, which will feature traditional musicians and dancers. About 17 traditional troupes form Uganda and Tanzania will perform at Nyege Nyege 2018.

Nyege Nyege Tapes, which previously showcased emerging underground artists from East Africa such as Sisso Records, Disco Vumbi and Otim Alpha, will also be at the festival.

The organisers said a number of international acts would be in Kampala, Uganda, in August to collaborate with Ugandan musicians.

In February, Nyege Nyege signed a three-year sponsorship deal with MTN Uganda. The deal is expected to increase the popularity of the festival with local and international audiences.

"There are so many yet-to-be-discovered musicians in Uganda,” Otim Alpha told Music In Africa in February. “MTN with its huge database will enable the Nyege Nyenge team to continue to identify underground musicians that are yet to be discovered. Nyege Nyege is very good at discovering new artists and presenting them to the world. We look forward to the several editions that MTN will sponsor."

Click here for the full 2018 MTN Nyege Nyege line-up.