Expect more ‘Unusual Essentials’ at the Bell ObaFest, says Elijah Kitaka

Bell Lager is hosting the first-ever Bell Lager ObaFest this Sunday October, 22, at Jahazi Pier Munyonyo to celebrate East African cuisine, music, and culture.

The festival will be a beacon of African optimism. It will feature a star-studded lineup of East African musical heavyweights including Uganda’s Azawi and Elijah Kitaka, Kenya’s Nyashinski, Tanzania’s Harmonize and many more.

We caught up with Elijah Kitaka for a chat about ObaFest – whose unusually soulful debut EP ‘Bedroom Essentials’ was released last month.

Qn. ObaFest is a celebration of – among others – East African cuisine. What is your favourite East African meal?

Matooke and binyebwa. Ettooke n’ekinyebwa in Luganda.

Qn. Which elements of East African culture have been a big influence on your life and musical journey?

Fashion, music, food and culture have been an influence on me from my childhood, and this has equally seeped into my musical journey. My love for always celebrating and endorsing East African culture grows bigger and bigger, and that’s why I celebrate it at every opportunity I get – either through my fashion sense, my music, my sound and so on.  There is always going to be something East African in all I do.

Qn. What are you looking forward to at the ObaFest this Sunday?

I’m looking forward to celebrating the beautiful East African culture and vibe that will be on display. I’m excited to see the ladies rocking their African style and having fun with it as we vibe to my Bedroom Essentials EP with a unique aphrodisiac vibe that will have the fans serenaded and glued to the dancefloor.

Qn. What do you have in store for your fans who will attend ObaFest this Sunday?

I will be performing the unusual Bedroom Essentials EP in full, so just make sure you come through. We are going to have a good time together.

Qn. Any last words?

For my fans out there, I have an exciting aphrodisiac music set for you. I will be performing the Bedroom Essentials EP with an unusual vibe from what you’ve been listening to, and I also look forward to sharing an intimate Bell ObaFest experience with you all. 

So come through on time, let’s have fun, let’s be East African and let’s be unusual!

ObaFest tickets are available on Flexipay and Mookh at 30k for early birds and 50k at the gate.