Zakes Bantwini to headline Vuma Piano in Kampala

What the report says

Kampala is set to host Vuma Piano at Méstil Gardens on November 7, with South African artist Zakes Bantwini headlining the event. According to Sqoop Uganda, the show is being presented as an afternoon celebration of African music, dance and culture, with the program beginning at 2pm.

Bantwini brings added prominence to the line-up after winning a 2023 Grammy Award for Best Global Music Performance with Wouter Kellerman and Nomcebo Zikode for "Bayethe." The article says he is expected to showcase his Afro-house sound and South African influence, and that his performance is likely to be the main attraction for the Kampala audience.

He will be joined by DJ FKR and a range of Ugandan DJs, creating a cross-border mix of South African piano sounds and local party culture. Sqoop Uganda also says the event is intended to be more than a standard concert, with fashion, creativity, storytelling and other experiential elements built into the program.

The early start time is meant to give attendees a full afternoon of music before the event moves into the evening. More broadly, the lineup reflects the continued popularity of Afro-house and South African-influenced sounds in Kampala, while also highlighting the city’s growing role in regional entertainment exchanges.