Following the successful launch of Season 1 of Coke Studio Africa last year, non-alcoholic beverage giant Coca-Cola Uganda has officially launched Coke Studio Season 2.
The show was launched with a concert at Kati Kati, for the Company’s youthful audience and a VIP, invite-only launch at Zone 7 in Mbuya.
Coke Studio is a music television series which features live studio-recorded music performances by various artists and is a local brand product of Coca-Cola. This one of a kind music show focuses on a fusion of the diverse musical influences in Africa, as well as contemporary hip hop, rock and pop music. The show provides a platform for renowned as well as upcoming and less mainstream artists, of various genres, regions and languages, to collaborate musically in live studio recording sessions.
This year, two Ugandan music stars – Navio and Jackie Chandiru – will feature on the show for the first time, together with Lillian Mbabazi from the last season.They will be joining an equally exciting line up of 19 other artists (22 artistes in total) from 7 other countries across Africa to a state-of-the-art studio to create a modern and authentic African sound through inter-cultural musical fusion.
Coke Studio has been popular, receiving critical acclaim and frequently being rebroadcast on television and radio regions out of Africa, such as Pakistan, India and the Middle East.
According to Brandon Ssemanda, the Brand Manager of Coca-Cola Uganda,“Our music history in Uganda dates back to Coca-Cola Pop Stars in 2003 where we discovered KefahMwesigwa (RIP), Sarah Zawedde and Cinderella Sanyu; Coca-Cola Real Stars which bore Blu*3, an all- girl Ugandan outfit comprising Cindy, Lilian Mbabazi and Jackie Chandiru; and most recently, Coca-Cola Rated Next.”
“We are therefore committed to using our platforms such as Coke Studio to give our artistes the recognition they deserve and which we believe, will open them to wider audiences and growth opportunities,” he added.
Ssemanda also noted that as part of efforts to engage the Company’s youthful audience, Coke Studio will be shown in all the major universities countrywide. “We shall have live viewings of the various Coke Studio episodes that will include performances from the Coke Studio Ugandan representatives as well as other top Ugandan performers.”
The show will air on NTV, every Saturdays at 8PM. Speaking at the event, Agnes Konde, the Managing Director of NTV Uganda expressed NTV’s pride at being associated with Coke Studio. “NTV Uganda is honored to once again be the station of choicefor Coke Studio. We believe that our extensive countrywide coverage as well as our quality broadcasting will provide the best viewing platform for our viewers and Coke Studio fans.”
The evening was crowned with performances from various artistes, including the Ugandan representatives in Coke Studio Season 2.