Uganda has not only waited for December to celebrate like other countries; it has been festive all year in the country. Almost every weekend of 2023, Ugandans have been attending festivals, and this has led to Uganda being ranked the 117th happiest country globally.
A lot of festivals happened in the year 2023, but we will look into the top 5 festivals that had the biggest highlights.
Blankets and Wine
This was by far the best festival in Uganda as of 2023, not because it is recent or because the memory is too fresh, but because it had a big turnout and was graced with one of the biggest Jamaican artists, Garfield Delano Spence, commonly known as Konshens. The excitement of seeing Konshens perform cut across different age groups because it is no secret that 80% of Ugandans love dance-hall music.
The turnout was massive, and for the first time, the Blankets and Wine festival sold out. The timing was perfect; holiday makers embraced the show; the cooperative working class too had gotten the Christmas bonuses; and the ticket that was going for UGX150,000 didn’t cause a big pinch to anyone because the festival was worth it. Jamaican tunes like stop and sign, du sumn, couple up, and pull up, among others, got the revelers on their feet all night. Performances from Ugandan artists and DJs, the service providers, and the organizers did a good job. However, the drinks were costly compared to previous editions of the quarterly event.
Nyege Nyege Festival
This is arguably the biggest music festival in East Africa. It is an annual four-day music celebration that brings together revelers from across the globe every September in Jinja City. According to Nyege Nyege, the founder, Arlen Dilsizian, and Derek Debru, the event stands for peace, love, and abundant joy for underground music and musicians in Africa. Diverse cultures are represented from all over the world. However, this event has received criticism from political leaders and sabotage from foreign governments. Despite travel advisories by the US government warning their citizens that Uganda is unsafe due to crime, terrorism, and anti-LGBT+ legislation, this year’s 8th edition had a better turnout than the 7th edition.
Cultural Festivals
These have really pulled up revelers this year; they were started based on tribal groups in Uganda, but they have become fun and brought all tribes together to celebrate each other. The most attended is Bakiga Nation, which is the oldest tribal event in Kampala. It has not only brought Bakiga together, but it has brought all tribes together to appreciate the diversity in Bakiga. It has been said that 30% of the revelers are actually not Bakiga. The growing number of Western Ugandan artists like Shwento, Omega 256, RayG, Banjo, and Truth, to mention but a few, has made this event more enjoyable.
Batoro Kwengoza, which happens at Naguru Hilltop, is also a Batoro-based event that is known for bringing together beautiful women from Tooro.
Iwecu Niheza is attended mostly by Bafumbira and Banyarwanda in Uganda. However, this year’s edition was memorable as it was flooded with Rwandan women, who are known to be very attractive. The show this year was headlined by Element, the musician behind the famous Rwandan song of the year “FOU DE TOi,” and the famous Tik Toker, known as the front line commander.
Roast and Rhyme
Revelers love the idea of roasting their own meats and taking part in outdoor games and activities while they enjoy live music from some of Uganda’s best performers and DJs at this event.
Swangz Avenue, the organizers of the event, have grown and built a reputation for crafting unique and unforgettable experiences, and the 19th edition in 2023 brought a multitude of surprises that will be remembered for those that attended the picnic at Jahazi Pier, not only because of the rain but because the event was beautifully planned and revelers had fun.
The Music Battle between Cindy and Sheebah
The battle that was organized by Victoria University saw two powerful Ugandan female artists, Cindy and Sheeba, show off their talent. This show was unique because it brought Ugandans together and, at the same time, divided them into three factions: the Cindicates, the Shebaholics, and those who were neutral. According to Ugandans, Cindy won the battle. Prior to the battle, the two artists went back and forth with each other in a pre-debate that entertained Ugandans even before the D-day.
Other concerts that took place in 2023 included Fally Ipupa in Arua and Kampala, the King Saha Ebiseera Concert, Hillsong’s Gospel Choir, the Winnie Nwagi concert, and October Fest, to mention but a few.
