Ugandan electronic acholi history explored in new Nyege Nyege Tapes compilation
Nyege Nyege’s Hakuna Kulala has also announced a new EP from Congolese producer Rey Sapienz
Uganda's Nyege Nyege collective have announced the next two releases on their Nyege Nyege Tapes and Hakuna Kulala labels.
The east African electronic arts collective, who will host the fifth edition of their festival this September, are set to release a new compilation tape exploring the history of Ugandan Electronic Acholi dance music, alongside a more contemporary EP from Congolese producer Rey Sapienz.
The 'Electro Acholi Kaboom from Northern Uganda’' compilation, incoming via Nyege Nyege Tapes on the 12th September, features 15 tracks of traditional east African electronic sounds, documenting "the birth of Electronic Acholi dance music in Northern Uganda". Beginning primarly in the cities of Guru and Lira around 2003, Acholi courtship songs were first performed at weddings before filtering into nightclubs. The compilation's tracks were originally recorded between 2003 and 2008 in various studios in the two cities, and feature renowned Acholi vocalists including Otim Alpha, Bosmic Otim, Jeff Kornodo and Zing Zang & City Boy.
Set for release on Hakuna Kulala on 22nd August, 'Mushoro' by Congolese, Kampala-based producer Rey Sapienz abstractly explores Soukous, a genre of dance music from the Congo basin, and Kalindula, an up-temple style of music which uses a kalindula bass guitar. The six-track release is reminiscent of forward-thinking, Congolose productions by artists such as Denis Mpunga and Zazou Bikaye.
See the full line-up for Nyege Nyege's 2019 festival here.
You will be able to purchase both releases from Hakuna Kulala and Nyege Nyege Tapes Bandcamp pages.
Listen to 'Naona laaah', featuring MCZO and Don Tach, taken from Tanzanian producer Duke's 'Uingizaji Hewa' recent album on Nyege Nyege Tapes.
