Top 5 Events you MUST show up to in 2022!

This was going to be titled Top 5 events you couldn’t wait for to return! But I guess this one also works.

As Ugandans, we’re innate party animals. Believe it or not, a Ugandan comes out of the mother’s womb knowing how to “kusimbula”! So as you can imagine, it’s only natural for us to highly crave some of the year’s biggest events after we’ve been starved of the party mood for a little over 2 years.

Now that Jajja Tibs has announced the opening of all these events again, most Ugandans’ excitement levels are through the roof. But who can blame us really? Y’all (non-Ugandans) have no idea what it’s like to suppress the urge to have a fun day and night out chilling with the big boys because Mzee Presidento has said stay indoors so that Bwana Covid doesn’t catch more people than it should. So don’t judge us, just watch the space and enjoy Ugandans unleashing their inner party love.

So yeah, we’ve been denied of performing arts events, concerts and generally public performances so please you have no choice but to understand the hype.

Speaking of the performing arts events, those ones are where Ugandans thrive because however skeptical you might be, the majority of Ugandans are artists, creatives if you may. And because this looming curse of 2020 is now finally being lifted, so are the most awaited annual events getting back to the top. 

Always count on us to keep you in the know of these 5 events you probably couldn’t wait for.

• Bayimba International Festival

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This right here is a personal favorite (right after Nyege Nyege) because if there’s a festival that screams ART! It’s this one.

The Bayimba International Festival of the Arts is a four-day festival that offers indelible experiences in Music, Dance, Comedy, Film, Poetry, exhibitions and exciting games, lest we forget the camping in nature that takes place there too.

Sounds like something a lot of us need after these past years have shown us “wassup”.

It’s set to be held at Lunkulu Island located off the shores of Lake Victoria in Mukono and Buikwe district and this is the Bayimba Cultural Foundation’s new home, according to their website.

What makes Bayimba stand out is its niche of giving exposure and platforms to emerging arts and artists’ productions from Uganda, East Africa and around the world too; call it a consumption of the finest arts internationally.

Because of the corona virus, it hasn’t been as fun filled as it was in the past due to the rules and guidelines to be followed but hopefully this year, it’ll be back with a blast!

• Nyege Nyege Festival

For those that don’t know, Nyege Nyege is a Luganda word that describes “a sudden uncontrollable/irresistible urge to dance” so I believe you already get the vibe!

The last time the biggest music festival in Uganda was held was 2019!! Imagine the pain my hippies and art/enjoyment lovers were going through missing it for the next 2 years! Eh eh eh, my Lord…I wonder! How could a virus deprive us of enjoyment like this?? Well, gone are those days (I sure hope so) because I highly doubt Ugandans will ever let a germ do them dirty like this again.

So the light at the end of the tunnel is finally here! Thee Nyege Nyege music festival is back and it is here to stay! Let me just say what you’re probably thinking; I know Ugandans are already a wild breed as it is but Nyege Nyege gives them a chance to take that wildness to a whole new level unprovoked! And believe you me; these are some of the moments you don’t want to miss Ugandans at.

Nyege Nyege was founded in 2013 by expats Arlen Dilsizian and Derek Debru who wanted to create a platform for outsider music and also showcase talents from a variety of African and Ugandan artists such as dance, music, fashion and art among other talents.

It’s famous for having the greatest attendance in all Kampala events but it takes place in Jinja, a hub of enjoyment for many Ugandans.

The fact that they have confirmed that they will be holding a festival this year is crazy good and I couldn’t get more excited.

• Roast and Rhyme

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Whatever happens here is in the name. It’s an excuse for Ugandans to cause massive air pollution with smoke in the name of enjoyment.

 I’M KIDDING! Before some of y’all come at me for saying that, I was KIDDING! Banange can’t y’all enjoy ko some ka dark humor?!

Heneway Roast and Rhyme is actually a great combination of an event because who doesn’t love munching on some nyama choma while screaming out of excitement of seeing their favorite artistes perform hit jams? Kudos to Swangz Avenue for organizing something so genius.

The great news is that Roast and Rhyme Reggae Nyam Nyam festival will return on 27^th February this year! A venue hasn’t been yet been announced but I believe this part of the announcement is good enough cause of the assurance. Usually though this event takes place at the side of a water body, like a lakeside or near waterfalls, as revelers bring their own food and drink and dance their worries away.

A Wild Roast and Rhyme edition took place in December 2020at Murchison Falls National Park but word on the street has it that it wasn’t fun because of the SOPs that had to be followed. This time though, best believe Ugandans and 88 other nationalities are ready to get their realest groove on at this festival.

• Blankets and Wine

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You can’t fail to love Twitter when a popular event’s twitter handle informs you that it’s coming soon and that you should stay tuned! It’s the hope that doesn’t kill you because one thing you should know about Ugandans is that they don’t fail to deliver enjoyment when promised!

Blankets and Wine is really outstanding to me though because of the artsy name and aesthetic it has. As you can imagine it is a picnic-style festival with some of the best Afro jams East Africa has to offer. It was started in Kenya but has quickly caught up in Uganda with the purpose of showcasing excellent musicians that mostly perform afro-based tunes i.e. soul, afro-jazz and what not. But also because of the obvious reason of Ugandans’ enjoying the hell out of any artsy festival that allows them live their lives while looking hella great!

The organizers are still super tight lipped about the whole thing though, but fingers crossed, fun will be had.

• The Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards (ASFAs)

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If you’ve reached this far in this article, you’ve probably noticed all the events have to do predominantly with music, dance and art. This is the one that stands out from the crowd because it indulges in the fashion industry in Uganda and Africa by giving recognition to excellent and the most sensational achievements and artists in this field.

The ASFAs is so popular because of all the glitz and glam of those that attend the awards, and c’mon, who doesn’t love a glamorous red carpet show? (I call it “the kavuyo moment” of fashion) Call it the Ugandan Met Gala if you may, just a somewhat different one.

 It’s an annual event usually held in December and this year best believe that’ll happen. Their last event, the 7^th edition, took place in 2019 and Jidenna performing was a plus for it and whoever attended, so there’s hope they’re going to go bigger, as they’ve had a couple of years to make something  more epic out of it.

 Don’t sulk though because as the Good Lord has decreed, Brian Ahumuza, CEO of Abryanz Fashion Collection, has announced that the AFSAs will be returning this year.

So yeah ba dears, put on your party faces and get your vibe on!! As corny as that sounds, it’s the best I can say now, but basically brace yourselves.

Three halves of the population considers this the most accurate list so don’t argue with me please, that’s what your ancestors are for. Have fun though!