The 9th Bayimba International Festival, which is presented by Bayimba Cultural Foundation in partnership with Stichting Doen, Hivos Danish Center for Culture and Development (CKU), Alliance Francaise, Institut Francais and Goethe-Zentrum Kampala (UGCS) is set to take place on the weekend of 16th – 18th September 2016 at the Uganda National Cultural Centre also known as the National Theatre.
The three day programming boasts of a highly anticipated pilgrimage that will entail a vast array of production representing the entire world, and most especially Uganda’s ancestral genre Kadongo Kamu taking centre stage, while Ugandan female DJ movement Femme Electronic will take us to an opening party treat, courtesy of Santuri Safari an East African experimentation of fusion of folklore and electronic sounds.
With the festival only a few weeks away, we take you through the diverse line up of artistes that will be performing at the 3-day event.
First Batch of (Main Stage) Artists:
US born wordsmith, rapper and poet, Akua Naru will perform on the main stage as the headlining at the festival.
Bayimba will also present South Africa’s vocal songbird Tribute ‘Birdie Mboweni, among new breed of soul musicians in South Africa and internationally known putting their own modern take on the classic soul sound – and doing it justice. She is the latest edition to what already is a highly competitive music scene (including Lira, Simphiwe Dana, Zonke, Thandiswa and others) but has fast carved out her own path.
DOADOA – East African Performing arts market alumni and beneficiaries, Gravitti Band along with soulful Bengatronics king Winyo will represent Kenya, while Uganda’s ancestral tunes of Kadongo Kamu will be re-awakened by the industries mighty forces including Mathias Walukaga, Chris Evans, Ronald Mayinja, the previously auditorium programmed genre will this time close the entire three day main stage showcases.
Also confirmed for the 2016 line up is, Ugandan Female Afro-Soul Saxophonist MoRoots, to be joined by celebrated gospel entertainer Exodus. Other main stage acts include; Irene Namubiru, Magic Hornz (UG), YATATCHI (SWISS), and Amadinda Sound System, collaboration between Uganda and Austria (UG/AUSTRIA).
The Second Round of Acts:
In this second round of acts for the 9th Bayimba International Festival, we present the activities for the three day on;
Second Stage: Located in the theatre upper garden, the space is formerly known for hosting majorly the hip-hop genres, and to look a little different, we’ve diversified the line-up of acts that will present at this particular space including; Mbale’s current top hip-hop duo, Sharon Sento and Byg Ben. Hoppy Benny from Gulu, while the Blood Brother’s band will return to do a solo showcase after playing for reggae star Maddox’ set at the 2014/15 Festival, from Germany, we have DJ Wurzelholz, Femme Electronic alongside Ugandan reggae sensation Mighty Son, Jamaica born Anthony Jermaine and the Mataali Group.
Auditorium: The auditorium will host theatrical groups that include: – Mandragora Circo from Argentina, Zimbabwe’s Lamentations @ 12 and Uganda’s Pride Performers. Other acts announced are; Ugandan Kadongo Kamu maestros Willy Mukabya, Kazibwe Kappo and Fred Ssebbale, a dance piece by dancer and choreographer Faisal Ddamba, along with Vizuri Dance Company, Kanaan Gents and a comedy showcase by the Punchliners. Courtesy of Amakula Kampala Film Festival, a couple of African films will be presented.
Dance Floor: After 8 years of showcasing Fashion at the open space during the Bayimba Festival, at this edition of the – it will be presented as the main voice of this particular space, with a proper catwalk and sitting under Uganda’s fashion mogul Ras Kasozi in a theme dubbed SEED fashion show, Kasozi will be joined by yet another fashion ace Buyi Phil who will be unveiling his Kkolo collection, not forgetting popular highlight activity “Silent Disco”.
