Nyege Nyege isn’t just throwing a festival this year — it’s turning festivalgoers into extras.
The 11th edition of the Ugandan festival returns to Kalagala Falls November 19-22, and this time there’s a twist: organizers are teaming up with Wakaliwood, Uganda’s scrappy, internationally famous DIY film scene, to shoot scenes for a brand-new movie right in the middle of the festival grounds.
Here’s the deal — Kalagala Falls isn’t just hosting a party this year, it’s becoming a living set. Co-founder Derek Debru says after a decade of editions, the team wanted a new chapter that could only happen there.
Turns out, the whole thing is going way beyond music. More than 200 artists are set to hit seven stages — electronic, live bands, club sounds, experimental, traditional, underground, the works. The Dub & Reggae Stage is back, Kenyan and Rwandan takeovers are on deck, and Boiler Room is making its return too. On the homegrown side, King Saha, Sheila Gashumba, Etania, Linus and Abeeka Band are among the first names locked in.
And there’s more than music and film crammed into this thing — comedy, fashion, visual art, interactive experiences, even an AFCON football tie-in are all part of the mix. Organizers are also leaning hard into tourism, partnering with Explore Uganda to push extended-stay packages built around the festival.
This year’s camping village is being expanded to fit about 1,000 people, with Adrift River Club adding extra accommodation and adventure options nearby. Before the main event even kicks off, the African Electronic Music Conference runs November 17-19, pulling in artists, labels and promoters from across the industry.
Bottom line: Nyege Nyege isn’t just adding a stage this year — it’s adding a whole film crew.
