By Ian Ortega
I have fully recovered from the Nyege Nyege explosion. It also marked my third time of making an appearance at Nyege Nyege. So then, I am in a better position to review last weekend’s fourth edition.
I must confess, this year marked an all-time FOMO for Nyege Nyege. For many, it was a do or die. Many planned for Nyege Nyege months in advance, yours truly as usual has always left things to randomness. Heaven is hidden in those things you don’t plan for, taking routes you didn’t intend to take. In there, you find the joys of serendipity.
This year, Nyege Nyege went truly extreme. If last year was Nyege Nyege’s mark of maturity, this year, it cemented itself as the festival that will always dot your annual calender.
Bell Lager and Uganda Waragi left no stone unturned when it came to executions. The world of Waragi had nothing close to it, the UG pineapple garden, the coconut beach and the silent disco, it was a new step in the party world.
Then came Bell Jamz with that music studio. All you had to do was get in, and rock out your music hit. Imagine having the Swangz team mastering your song on spot. Talent for many was discovered on that day. For many, it was living every moment, for those 4 days do rush by so fast.
We then moved to wild bae; MTN decided to transform its space into your normal night club, only that their club now played 24-7.
As usual the mainstage continued to bring some of the usual main acts such as Beenie Gunter yet did not fall shot of unveiling some authentic sounds from South Africa.
I found my heart at the Tropical Stage, it was an actual boiler room. The energy over here had no lid to it. It was a furnace of all characters. But I also fell in love with it because it presents this classic view of the Nile.
Did I say the cheapest rolex was UGX 5000? But give it to Busoga, after tasting a Jinja chapatti, you never want to taste these fake Kampala chapattis. The Food Court was expanded, well organized, it offered too many options that you could almost fail for choice.
One thing that Nyege Nyege has kept true is the ability to give people the chance to express themselves in the most authentic of ways. It is the one time of the year where people are truly themselves. If you desire to be shirtless, this is the time. If you want to show up as a Caesar, you are sorted. If you hate shoes, this is the time.
Nyege Nyege also has the unbeatable location. Greatness is about location, location, location. Nile Discovery beach is that perfect location. The trees, the landscaping, the waters. Or yes.
Speaking of the waters, I missed the rain. Nyege Nyege missed the rain. When it finally rained, it was a little too late, on Sunday morning and then disappeared so quick. Many last year argued that rain messed Nyege Nyege. I told them they were wrong, rain is a key ingredient in Nyege Nyege. It makes a big difference. For when it rained last year, you just stopped caring completely and just decided to dance, people would fall in the mud, hold each other up, the soggy conditions more than ever, brought them closer.
I also felt like this year Nyege Nyege was in a battle between mainstream and the arts. To be or not to be. For the arts and culture loyalists, Nyege Nyege kinda did dim on this front a bit. Nonetheless, this did not kill that irrestible urge to dance, shake, move and just go craaazzzzy.
As usual, Nyege Nyege wins on security. Yet as the audience grows even bigger, the fight will be on how to never kill the culture that makes Nyege, Nyege. Could there be a day in future where Nyege Nyege becomes another prolonged blankets of sorts? Or will Nyege remain true to its cores of the afropolitan vibes? For that afrocentric culture should never die. Those are the strings that hold this guitar.
Yet one thing remains clear, Nyege Nyege remains Uganda’s top event, East Africa’s top festival. That is not about to change. Whatever meaning one derives out of Nyege Nyege, it will always be personal. Whether one sees it as the afro burning man or coachella, it is still unbeatable. Ekinyegenyege for the Baganda, Nyege Nyege for Basoga, Swahili, and other languages. All those means come alive in those four days.
If one thing ought to happen at the next edition, it ought to rain, it ought to get muddy….