Uganda Waragi announced as title sponsors as Nyege Nyege returns after forced lull 

The organisers of the Nyege Nyege International Music Festival have announced Uganda Waragi as the title sponsorship of the annual music festival for the next three years.

The festival will on September 15 to 18 at Itanda Falls in Jinja return to the entertainment circuit having missed for two years due to the Covid pandemic.

Speaking on Thursday in Kampala, organisers announced that for the next three years, the festival will be sponsored by Uganda Waragi.

“We are pleased to assume title sponsorship for this festival. Uganda Waragi is the spirit of Uganda making it a natural fit for this event that gives us an opportunity to showcase the best of the Pearl of Africa to both domestic and foreign tourists in attendance providing the opportunity to experience our rich heritage, music, culture, food, fashion and all things uniquely Ugandan. Uganda Waragi will sponsor the event alongside Bell Lager and Smirnoff all providing unique and exciting experiences,” said Emmy Hashakimana, the Marketing and Innovation Director, Uganda Breweries.

Organisers said the Uganda Waragi  sponsorship  will boost the plans to present a bigger and better festival.

“We are proud to welcome Waragi Uganda as our title sponsor, it’s a match made in heaven of two brands that believe in the power of Uganda as a global brand that reflects on good times, friendship and creating lasting memories. We will work as a team to make sure that this partnership is implemented in the best interest of the revelers. No brand represents Nyege Nyege better than Uganda Waragi. Nyege Nyege is now Uganda Waragi Nyege Nyege,” said Derek Debru, the CEO for  Nyege Nyege.

The festival aims to provide a totally immersive African party experience, diving deep into the cauldron of contemporary African music and its wider diaspora.

“Year on year, the festival has grown in strength and we are pleased to have been part of this journey. This festival has evolved from a music celebration into a destination event attracting tourists from all over the world. This has given the businesses in Jinja a cash boost with the opportunity to provide goods and services to the festival goers. The last festival attracted over 30,000 people and we are pleased to make a contribution towards stimulating business recovery and growth following the pandemic,” said UBL’s Hashakimana added.

Known to surprise audiences with rising stars from all over the continent, this year the festival will welcome Ghanaian Diva Adomaa with her band FRA! and Kenya’s pop wonder child Kabeaushé, Nigeria’s most lethal MC Aunty Rayzor, Kenyan Genegeton star Sylvia Saru and Cameroonian Makossa pioneer Eko Roosevelt who will perform with a 15 piece band to celebrate his 80th birthday.

“Talent Africa is excited to manage the sixth edition of Uganda Waragi Nyege Nyege, which has been named and recognized as Africa’s largest tourism and music festival. We missed the big party, and we know that tens of thousands of fans all over the world couldn’t wait for this edition,” said Talent Africa CEO, Aly Alibhai.

“This year, we promise an even more thrilling and remarkable experience at a completely new venue that is six times larger than the previous venue. We are excited to be empowering communities economically and socially, and we can’t wait to see the growth that the Itanda Falls community will experience over the next few years.”

Uganda Waragi Nyege Nyege superstars Kampire, MC Yallah, Otim Alpha will also join the line-up, along with Dutch heavyweights Munchi, Marcelle and De Schuurman, Egyptian underground legends Yunis, KZLK and Assyoutii, DJ Znobia one of Angola’s kuduro pioneers and DJ Chengz who will bring Santa Lucia’s signature denary segment music for the first time to Africa.

France’s most notorious party collective Maraboutage will join Clara and Low Jack for their Nyege debut, DJ Travella the Tanzanian phenomenon who has been hailed as one of the world’s most dangerous DJs, the full Jokkoo collective, US DJ Paypal, Quest?onmark and

Juliana Huxtable, Tokyo’s gqom collective and South Africa’s Phatstoki, Rude Boyz, Phelimuncasi amd Menzi.

In addition, Uganda Waragi Nyege Nyege will also feature Uganda’s biggest stars, including Palasso, Navio, Cindy Sanyu and DJ Zato as well as the best of Kampala, Nairobi and Rwanda’s DJs including Nasselow, Selector Jay, Alisha, DJ Manwinch, DJ Kaneda, DJ IV, Binghi, along with an extensive selection of East Africa’s traditional music outfits.