Nyege Nyege Festival 2023 is back for the 8th edition much to the surprise of many. It will rock Uganda for four days; from November 9 to November 12.
Nyege Nyege is an annual music and arts festival held in Jinja, Uganda. It is popular for its eclectic lineup of electronic, dance, and experimental music, as well as its focus on African culture and creativity. The festival attracts many people globally due to its relaxed and inclusive atmosphere. This makes it one of the most unique and exciting festivals in the world.
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Where is the Nyege Nyege Festival in 2023?
The festival will camp in seven different stages as it returns for the eighth edition. According to the organisers of this auspicious event, Nyege Nyege Festival 2023 will take place on three complementary sites along the Nile River. They include The Jinja Golf Course, Source of the Nile and the Jinja Showground. Jinja’s Mayor and the City Council will also be in attendance.
Nyege Nyege Festival. Photo/Nairobi News
There are more than 300 hotels in the city, providing enough lodging for everyone within walking distance of the event. In addition, with more than 500 performances worldwide, the festival and its affiliated labels and collective have defined the forefront of new sounds emerging from the continent.
It is widely regarded as the world’s largest showcase of traditional and contemporary African music. Besides music, it is a rich platform for drawing lovers and influential figures from Uganda’s showbiz industry. And this is the place where each edition amplifies emerging musical genres, artists, and talents.
In addition, the line-up, set for mega reveal in September, will feature the hottest new bands from East Africa. It will also showcase some of the best performers from major music markets like Nigeria, South Africa, and Brazil. Different African sounds will also features in different terms of styles and genres. You can expect South African amapiano, cruise beat, afrobeats, gengetone, dancehall, singeli, soukous, and more.
How Many Days Is Nyege Festival In Uganda?
Nyege Nyege Festival 2023 is a four-day event traditionally held in Jinja City. The festival premiered in 2015 with the aim of celebrating arts and music in East Africa. However, it quickly gained international attention for its unique blend of traditional and contemporary sounds which is why subsequent editions had a lot of international visitors.
What Is The Meaning Of Nyege Nyege Festival In Uganda?
Nyege Nyege is a Swahili word which in Uganda means an irresistible craving to dance. The energy that the multi-genre music brings on stage is the reason behind the vibrant energy that is synonymous with this music and arts event. There is a wide variety of electronic, dance, and experimental music, from traditional African sounds which mutate to cutting-edge electronica. The music is loud, energetic, and often experimental, which creates a really exciting atmosphere.
Nyege Nyege. Photo/Plug TV Kenya
Further, Nyege Nyege Festival 2023 will keep its reputation of its diverse and welcoming crowd. People from different parts of the world fly to Uganda exclusively for the festival. Ugandans, on the other hand, are enviably hospitable which adds to the party mood the festival is known for. You always get the real sense of community at the festival, which is one of the things that makes it so special.
Moreover, its location on the banks of Nile River creates a beautiful and serene environment often amplified by music. Over the years though, the festival earned a fair share of ridicule over reported cases of randy behavior. This controversy sparked interest among moral activists who lobbied the Ugandan government to regulate the festival.
Despite controversies and government scrutiny, Nyege Nyege continued to grow, fostering cross-cultural collaborations and showcasing artists from Africa and beyond. By 2021, it had evolved into a global platform, contributing to the recognition and exchange of diverse musical and artistic expressions.
Who Founded Nyege Nyege In Uganda?
Derek Debru and Arlen Dilsizian are the festival’s creators.  As DJs and promoters living in Kampala, the Ugandan music scene fascinated them. Dilsizian is an American DJ and promoter who moved to Uganda in 2009 while Debru plied his trade back home in Belgium before moving to Uganda in 2012 where they met. Dilsizian founded the Boutiq Electroniq party crew which morphed into the biggest promoter of underground electronic music in East Africa.
Debru birthed the Nyege Nyege Tapes record label, which features music from African musicians across the globe. The festival is instrumental in promoting a diverse range of music and fostering cultural exchange within the region and on the global stage.
