When house music found its way home

What the report says

A music event branded Vuma Piano at Mestil Gardens in Kampala highlighted the city’s long-running connection to house music while also reflecting the rise of South Africa’s Amapiano sound, according to Sqoop Uganda. The article says the gathering mixed nostalgia for earlier electronic and dance scenes with newer regional influences, framing the night as both a celebration and a reminder of how Kampala audiences have followed these genres over time.

Sqoop Uganda reports that the evening opened with DJ FKR blending well-known Ugandan songs with electronic elements, including records associated with Radio, Afrigo Band, Joshua Baraka and Jose Chameleone. The set also featured a saxophonist and moved through different eras of local music before shifting into house-driven sounds. Other performers mentioned included DJ Vanns and Zonke, while the line-up’s main attraction was South African artist Zakes Bantwini.

The report says Bantwini began his performance with the Ugandan national anthem before moving into his signature dance material. The article also notes support from sponsors including Johnnie Walker and Don Julio. Beyond the event itself, Sqoop Uganda uses the night to point out that Amapiano’s popularity sits on top of an earlier house-music culture in Kampala, where electronic music had already built a following years before the current wave.