Uganda: Creative Asylum now a monthly event

“We started off as an underground annual meet-up for Ugandan creatives,” Creative Asylum organiser Gabriel Mundaka told Music In Africa. “But as of this year, it will be a monthly event with guests from across the continent such as Kenya, Ghana and South Africa.”

The Creative Asylum platform was launched in 2014 to initiate an exchange of ideas between Ugandan creatives with a focus on education, showcases, networking and community development.

The first edition will feature Ugandan media production company Addmaya and legendary UK musician and producer Martin 'Youth' Glover. Youth will also play a DJ at the same venue. 

“Addmaya will be sharing the history and experience in making films, music videos, animation and TV commercials,” Mundaka said. “As for Glover, he brings with him great knowledge in creativity and problem-solving because at Asylum we are all about sharing knowledge to help other people be their best.”

East African Records founder David Cecil urged DJs and producers to attend the conference.

“Glover will be giving tips on discovering, nurturing and exposing extraordinary talent. It will be an informative session and the attendees will learn a lot," Cecil said.

Considered as one of the most influential UK producers alive today, Glover has produced artists such as Pink Floyd, Erasure and The Verve. He is the bassist of British post-punk/new wave band Killing Joke and the co-founder of The Fireman experimental project alongside Paul McCartney.

“I grew up in the '80s and '90s and so many of the songs that I used to love in punk rock, electronic music and mainstream pop, Glover was behind them,” Cecil said.

“He is a legend because he is behind so much good music of the last half-century, but has not ever made himself into a celebrity. He just loves music.”