Zubairi Family is a theatre and film production concept that was formed by film companies Aromatic Productions, Quest Afric Film and Boss Pictures. Three years ago they started with a TV drama series entitled ZUBAIRI OMWAANA WA BOOBWE. Zubairi Family thereupon produced a number of stage plays across the country, i.e. ENTOBAZI 110, NAJJANANI, GANEMEREDDE and ENZIKIZZA MU TTUNTU, Zubairi Family will now feature their stage plays at the Bayimba International Festival.

by Kavuma Michael, Mayanja Omugoma, and Omusajja wa Kagali

Remember those street musicians that walk around homestead and playing an instrument or two for money? Such artists have been invited to the Bayimba International Festival to present themselves to a wider audience. In the Theatre Restaurant during lunchtime slots you will see Michael Kavuma (accordion), Mayanja Omugoma (drums) and Omusajja wa Kagali (guitar) will be showcasing their talent on subsequent days of the festival.

Friday: Kavuma Michael

Saturday: Mayanja Omugoma

End of the Weak was introduced in Uganda in 2009. Due to diverse languages throughout Uganda, its goal is to breathe life into Ugandan Hip Hop by providing a platform for self- expression. Ever since the beginning the End of the Weak has organized MC competitions. To make it a truly national competition, it took its operations to the North (Kitgum and Gulu), East (Jinja and Mbale), West (Mbarara and Kabale). During the Bayimba International Festival the national MC challenge final will be held.

‪#‎Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art which was created as a form of self-defence by slaves brought to Brazil from Africa. Capoeira emerged as a way of fighting the oppression that was faced by the African slaves in Brazil. This unique art form was therefore created as a fight for freedom. The slaves and their descendants who created capoeira had to hide their martial art and traditions into a form of dance. Capoeira combines elements of dance, music as well as martial art moves, mainly kicks. It is a great way to keep fit and have fun.

Capoeira was introduced in Uganda in 2005 by a Danish capoeirista, Andreas Salomonsen, The group was joined by other capoeristas who assisted in teaching. Although the original teachers have left, the group has continued on its own under the dedicated leadership by Hedson. Senzala Uganda will offer capoeira beginner lessons and entice festival revelers with the various moves and strokes.

Friday

Saturday

Santuri Safari is a collaborative music project supporting underground electronic sounds in East Africa. It seeks to engage various stakeholders like radio DJs, performing DJs and producing DJs in developing musical products with a strong East African identity, emphasising new music, fusion projects, remixes and edits to enhance and eventually replace the dominating mainstream foreign music played on radios and in clubs. The Santuri Safari project was piloted at Sauti za Busara festival in February 2014, and then travelled to Uganda to join DOADOA l East African Performing Arts Market in Jinja, May 2014, was recently omnipresent at the Rift Valley Festival in Navaisha, Kenya and will now feature at the 7th edition of the Bayimba International Festival.

This time Santuri Safari will be linked up with Jonas Hummel (Germany), a musician, electronic artist and sound-/video engineer working with various multi-media technologies. Facilitated by Goethe-Zentrum Kampala, Jonas will hold a workshop prior to the festival on building hyrbid music instruments. The new sounds produced will then feature at the Santuri Safari sessions.

Santuri Safaro on SoundCloud

This year’s fashion show – the TrashOnFashionShow– is be brought to you by Afrika ARTS Kollective. A “Fashion Dome” made out recycled materials will be installed at the Open Space in the festival venue where the fashion shows, organized in collaboration with Modo Fashion House from Gulu (UG), shall take place on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st September at 17hrs.

Born in Bugembe, Jinja in 1986, Yasin Bamulumba aka Jungle De Maneater is the last of 9 children. Yasin started singing as a child and played traditional Ugandan instruments (adungu, xylophone and akogo) while in school. This all contributed to the beginning of his music career in 2004 when he chose to follow his passion and to use his life story and experience as a youth empowerment tool and an avenue for social change in his home district of Jinja. His music is a fusion of Hip Hop and traditional Ugandan melodies and addresses social issues, such as corruption, poverty and unity. He also worked as the vice-president of Bonfire Uganda, a community-based Hip Hop organization involved in teaching Hip Hop and organizing exhibitions and platforms on a weekly basis and is currently organizing the monthly the Lyricists Lounge, a Hip Hop poetry and storytelling platform.

Bamulumba has engaged in numerous collaborations and released 3 singles: “Kakopi, Kakopi”, “Mwekza” and “Byu”. Although he has not yet recorded an album, Jungle De Maneater has become a household name in the local Hip Hop scene and a frontrunner of “Lusoflo” that honours the local language of the Eastern region. In 2013, he was given the Igenge Talent and Music Award (I.T.M.A.) by the Kyabazinga of Busoga for his substantial social contribution to the people of Busoga.

Jungle De Maneater performed at various concerts, shows, festivals and local community gatherings since 2009, amongst them subsequent Bayimba Regional Festivals in Jinja and the Bayimba International Festival as part of various Hip Hop collaborations. This time is the first time that Jungle steps on the Bayimba International Festival stage with a performance of his own.

Jungle De Maneater on REVERBNATION

Bantu Clan is a trio of Zimbabwean female Kendi Lava who sings and raps in Shona, and two male emcees: Chimney Mc from Eastern Uganda who raps in Lusoga and Geno Mafeey from Western Uganda who raps in Rukiga.

Bantu Clan was founded in 2013 after the first Hip Hop Bootcamp that was organised under the Youth & Hip Hop Uganda project of BAYIMBA. Bantu Clan’s music is conscious, authentic and characterized by signature African sounds which give a home feel. “Language is Key” and “African culture is here to stay” are the phrases that drive the group and its members. Under the heading ‪#‎AfricaNiLeo – Swahili for “Africa is Now” – the group is aiming to develop a movement across Africa that emphasizes action for Africa now. They are working on a 7-track Border II Border album which will feature 7 artists from 7 countries.

Bantu Clan has already made several appearances. They performed at the a concerts of Abramz, the 11th Annual Hip Hop summit, the Bayimba Regional Festival in Jinja in May 2014, Sawa World Day, World Music day and, most recently, the 4th Annual Youth Festival. They are now ready to entertain the crowds at the 7th edition of the Bayimba International Festival.

Bantu Clan on SoundCloud

Newz Beat Uganda is a program featuring on NTV for young people, by young people, about the issues that matter to young people. The programme is delivered in verse and rhyme by Lugaflow artists Lady Slyke, Survivor and MC Loy that take the place of news anchors. As “newsicians” they collaborate to pen their rhymes, which are then put to music and beats composed by local producer DJ Nesta. The popular TV quartet are set to present a special performance of their rhyme and beat skills “live” at the coming Bayimba International Festival.

Mc Loy, at 13 years old, is surely the youngest rapping newscaster in Africa. Her family nurtured her talent and passion for music since the early age, as she sang and danced in the family choir. In 2009, inspired by her older brother Xross Catalyst, she joined him in the “Bavubuka Allstarz” project led by the Lugaflow pioneer Babaluku. She honed her rap skills and became a true wizard of the spoken verse. In 2011 MC Loy left Bavubuka and, together with Xross, started her own squad “1816 Clique”. She has been featured in multiple TV and radio shows, including Planet K on NTV, and had the honor of performing for President Museveni at the Uganda 50 years celebrations.

Lady Slyke has been active on the Ugandan music scene as an MC, rapper, song-writer since the late 90s. She is the first female to rap in Luganda. Slyke performed at various local and international festivals. Her “Mother Africa” song featured on Palm Awards best hip-hop song of 2005. Slyke believes in the power of music to empower youth and a tutor to many young artists, teaching rap poetry and song-writing. She has collaborated with GNL, Vampino, Sylvester and Abramz, Jahcity to name a few, as well as European hip-hop musicians.

Survivor is the third born in a musically gifted family of six. He claims to have “music in his genes”, and not for no reason. His late father James Lubyayi played with the Afrigo Band in its early days, while among his brothers you will find talented artists like Simon Base Kalema, Ian Kagimbo, Sylvester and Abramz. Survivor started writing rhymes at the age of 10 and, like most rappers of that time, learned it simply by imitating his favorite MCs before developing his own unique style. Survivor believes in exploring one’s full potential and pursuing one’s dreams, his motto being ‘Living once is enough, only if u dare to live.’

DJ Nesta is the grandfather of reggae selectors in Uganda. He is a professional Deejay, audio producer, sound engineer and musician. He started spinning in 1996 with his brother Ras Brown, and subsequently formed Ras Clan Entertainment, which became crucial in promoting reggae music in Uganda. Nesta performed at Club Rouge, Silk, AngeNoir and other major venues. Since 2000 he has been producing songs at his current studio Cas de Ras. He has done charity work with children in Northern Uganda and actively gives back to the community by promoting upcoming artists, organizing music workshops for youthc. Although behind the scenes of NewzBeat Uganda, he is the brain and ear behind the beat and oversees the recording process.

NewzBeatUganda on YouTube

Fort Portal-based Big Spit Music was founded in 2012 by Muhumuza Joseph a.k.a. Sagio Mhza, Asiimwe Nabbi Collins and Damascus Da OB with the aim to inspire, encourage, motivate, nurture and engage the talent in youth in Tooro and Bunyoro. Through its Hip Hop music, artists signed on to Big Spit Music – such as Draei Bitc Ludite, Dennis Mugaga, Lin J Deezy, Sagio Nitric and Sandrah – address and voice out the problem of the youth in society and aim to instil the conservation of Tooro culture. Songs like “Rulikuliza Amaizi ” (about safeguarding properties of the kingdoms), “Empaako ” (about the presence of pet names in the region), “Ensingaato Za Tooro”, “Abakumpiiganiza” and “Mundeke Ngeende” are a testimony to this ambition.

Big Spit Music has participated in different competitions, such as the NTV Talent XP in 2013 and Coca Cola Rated Next. Some of its artists were also selected to perform live at the premier edition of the Bayimba Regional Festival in Fort Portal in June 2014. This is now to be followed by their Bayimba International Festival debut.