By Our Reporter
Strictly Soul returns on Wednesday, December 17th, for the last edition of 2025, at Mestil Hotel.
Aptly titled, Girls in Shades, this edition will spotlight artistes who have held the notes for years, and those holding forte at the moment. We are talking artistes such as Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Jill Scot, Alicia Keys, to Jhene Aiko, Ella Mai, Teyana Taylor, and of course, you can always expect Fantasia Barrino’s When I See You to set the roof on fire. In fact, When I See You has become the original soundtrack of all classic RnB and Soul events.
During the last edition of Strictly Soul at the Mestil Hotel, most people were waving their whiskey drams when the song played; it is always something that characterizes these nights, people singing each word and taking them to heart.
Nothing spices such evenings like those Johnnie Walker cocktails; over the editions, the premium whiskey has been a big partner of the Soul experiences, celebrating legacies and sounds that have defined a genre and given birth to today’s stars- such as Giveon, Teddy Swims, Muni Long, SZA, HER and Jazmine Sullivan, among others.
“Strictly Soul is about honouring the music that shaped us, and the moments we associate with it,” said the Johnnie Walker Brand Manager, Christine Kyokunda. “Johnnie Walker has always stood for progress and legacy, and partnering with experiences like this allows us to celebrate the sounds, stories, and emotions that continue to move culture forward—one classic song and one shared whisky moment at a time.”
Curated by DJ Akio and a select number of Ugandan DJs, Strictly Soul promises a night of timeless vocals, deep-cut anthems, and shared nostalgia—where every chorus is sung in unison and every moment feels like a love letter to RnB and Soul.