Arts practitioners and lovers of all ages have May 7-10 tumble down Jinja Town for this year’s edition.
Doa Doa is a networking, marketing and promotion platform seeking to help East African artistes project their sound outside the region. The four-day event kicked off at National Theatre on May 6 and will climax with the Bayimba Regional Festival of the Arts.
Uganda Hiphop Archivist Bwette Daniel Gilbert talks at the Uganda National Cultural Centre during the opening night.
Doa is Swahili for spot and according to the programme coordinator, Herman Kabubi, the show intends to put the spot on artistes – give them a chance to network with various industry stakeholders from all over East Africa.
Seeing different East African acts like Ochieng’ Nelly from Kenya, Swahilli Ally from Tanzania, Santuri Safari DJs, and Christopher and Angel both from Rwanda, among others is no easy fate for any festival organizer.
Lawrence Okello proved what a great entertainer he is on the opening night. PHOTO by Bwette Gilbert Daniel
“This is the perfect setting for artists, for both regional and international industry stake holder in the performing arts business to meet and perform, and what a great opportunity for residents to see them in their own backyard,” says Philp Masembe, who is the media coordinator of Bayimba Regional Festival of the Arts.
Some of the high profile delegates headlining the various panel discussions in Jinja include Marion van Dijck from Kenya’s Sawa Sawa Festival, Ben Mandelson, a Producer from WOMEX, the acclaimed world music market and Tabu Osusa from the Kenya-based Ketebul Music label. Others are Paul Duhaney from the Liverpool-based Africa Oyé Festival, Uganda’s Deborah Asiimwe, Coordinator of Sundance EA and Carmela Sinco a Filipino New York-based Composer/Musician.
With the principal support of the British Council Uganda, Mimeta, HIVOS and the Norwegian Embassy, DOADOA is gradually becoming the fastest growing market expo for every regional industry professional.
The growth is largely attributed to the fact that it is a partnership initiative of the major stake holders in the region including- Bayimba Cultural Foundation (UG), Sauti za Busara Festival (TZ), Sawa Sawa Festival (KE) Kigali UP! Festival (RW), Caravan Records (TZ), Ketebul music (KE), Kenya Music Week (KE0 and Selam Music (ET).
[source : RedPepper]
