One of Africa’s largest music festival, the Uganda Waragi Nyege Nyege Festival, is set to return from November 14th to 17th, introducing an exciting new feature called the Afrogalactic Carnival. This year’s festival promises a unique, immersive experience, with the addition of the “Nyege In The City” daytime program, which will highlight Jinja City’s local culture and attractions, offering festival-goers a deeper connection to Uganda.
Now in its 9th edition, the festival will offer daytime experiences across Jinja, including guided city tours, fine dining, water activities on the Nile, and cultural showcases, all leading up to the main festival party each evening. The festival grounds will close from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily for security sweeps to ensure a safe environment for attendees.
Festival organizers reaffirmed their partnership with Jinja City authorities to co-host this event, aimed at boosting socio-economic impact by providing opportunities for local service providers and businesses.
“Uganda Waragi, the spirit of Uganda, is thrilled to showcase the best of the Pearl of Africa and the vibrant city of Jinja, offering a chance to experience our rich heritage, music, culture, and cuisine. This year, we celebrate the dynamic festival spirit with our festival favorite, Uganda Waragi Lemon and Ginger, alongside our coconut and premium options at the Uganda Waragi Stage,” said Francis Nyende, Marketing Manager of Mainstream Spirits at Uganda Breweries.
The main festival will take place at Jinja Golf Course, where organizers have created a beautifully landscaped, intimate layout designed to intensify the festival’s energy and atmosphere.
This year, festival-goers can look forward to the return of the iconic Dark Star Stage, featuring experimental artists from across Africa, along with the Spirit of Uganda Stage celebrating Ugandan multiculturalism, the Hakuna Kulala Stage, the Uganda Waragi Stage, and the Reggae Stage, headlined by Jamaican reggae artist Cali P.
Derek Debru, CEO of the Uganda Waragi Nyege Nyege Festival, emphasized the festival’s role in supporting the creative and cultural sector in Uganda by providing a platform for emerging talents and uniting diverse cultures through partnerships with regional festivals and dance troupes.
The festival lineup includes 10 cultural dance troupes, DJs, and artists from around the world. Among the performers are Teso megastar Patrick Atude, the Batwa Dance Group, Otim Alpha, and festival favorites like the Burundi Cultural Drummers. Special guests include Soweto’s Legendary Selector RMBO, French folk artist Emmanuele Parennin, Norwegian folk-noise artist Sturle Dagsland, and Nkisi from DRC.
Popular Ugandan artists and influencers, including Hozambe, Zex Bilangilangi, Pia Pounds, Recho Ray, Kenneth Mugabi, Alidekki Brian, Denesi, and DJs such as Alesha, Ssese, Vans, Melvyn DJ, Janja, and Faisal, will also grace the stage.
This year, Nyege Nyege continues its partnership with Talent Africa Group to curate the “Nyege In The City” experience. “We’re working closely with Jinja City authorities to create new experiences beyond the festival grounds that give attendees a deeper appreciation of Jinja and Uganda. We’ve established safe and engaging partnerships with local businesses to bring this experience to life,” said Aly Alibhai, CEO of Talent Africa Group.
Tickets are available at nyegenyege.com.
