Nyege Nyege marked its 10th anniversary over a four-day stretch that saw thousands converge at Kalagala Falls to celebrate in high spirits. While each day built its own unique energy, the festival as a whole spoke to the shared joy on the banks of the Nile as the Spirit of Uganda flowed freely.
In a double spirit of celebration, Uganda Waragi, which is celebrating 60 years, was a cornerstone of the festival as generations of taste connected. Throughout the event, orders flew in for the original Premium Uganda Waragi and the Lemon and Ginger variant paired with the classic rolex and grilled meat combos from stations across the grounds.
The musical journey was exactly the contrast and culture that Uganda Waragi has been celebrating throughout the year. On Day 3, as the event peaked, the Main stage saw new-school acts like Tai Dai and DJ Bugy sharing the spotlight with the veteran mixing mastery of the Silverback DJs.
The crowd erupted during Joshua Baraka’s performance at the Main Stage. The star showcased his versatility in a surprise appearance as a DJ. Carlos Lopez ran the Ubuntu Stage, which was already alive with the Zonke Africa mix masters.
The sandy floor in the Hakuna Kulala area gave it a playground feel, ensuring the energy remained true to the area’s name. As the night deepened, Otim Alpha showed range with a mix of EDM and traditional Northern Uganda Luo beats to set the perfect stage for the headline act: Skrillex, who led the crowd on an electric journey of lights and bass.
In the truest of Ugandan celebrations, the anticipation shifted to a local legend towards the 5 am hour. The sight was surreal as Suuna Ben delivered an EDM spin on his signature kinyanyanyanya sound to a sea of ecstatic fans with branches raised high.
Hilda Aguti, Marketing Manager of Mainstream Spirits at Uganda Breweries, said, “For 60 years as Uganda Waragi and 10 years as Nyege Nyege, we have been bringing people together to celebrate culture, music, and distinct flavour.” “It’s a pleasure to be here today toasting to the past, present, and future of all things that are truly Ugandan.”
Amidst the euphoria, Uganda Breweries went all out with a dedicated hydration fun-zone, dispensing free water all through the festival. It was a hub of responsible fun, where trivia, board games, and karaoke kept the vibe alive and undoubtedly contributed to the stamina of the revellers as the streaks of daylight started to hit the Kalagala Falls each passing day.