A New Home for a Decade of Sound
In July 2025, Nyege Nyege organizers announced that the festival’s 10th anniversary edition would take place at Kalagala Falls—a sacred community-held riverine site on the Nile near Jinja—marking the start of a planned decade-long residency (DJ Mag). Dubbed “Ekiggunda Ky’omuliro – The Gathering of the Flame”, this milestone edition runs from Thursday, November 20 to Sunday, November 23, 2025, transforming a landscape of sacred trees and swirling river currents into a living, breathing celebration of culture and creativity (MBU).
Previously held at Itanda Falls and the Jinja Golf Course/Source of the Nile sites, this new location gives the festival a permanent home—nestled only 20 minutes from Jinja town, 2.5 hours by road from Kampala, and around six hours from Nairobi (MBU).
A Theme Lit by Fire and Vision
Celebrating ten years of boundary-breaking music and powerful community, the theme “Ekiggunda Ky’omuliro” evokes metaphorical and literal flames—ancestral rituals, creative energy, and the interwoven pathways of launchpads and purification. It's both a time to look inward at roots and outward toward the continent’s future.
Expect six immersive stages—each curated around cosmic intentions—hosting everything from experimental electronica to Afro-house, Gqom, soukous, ambient, and film programming curated in the Matatu Film Stage. Festival organizers promise installations, fashion runways (Kwetu Kwanza), and more to elevate experience into performance art rooted in African identity (IN NAIROBI, MBU).
Who, What & Where: Music, Culture & Adventure
While the official lineup remains under wraps as of mid‑July, past editions featured over 300 artists—from Uganda’s own Kampire and DJ Travella to global acts like Tash LC, Acid Pauli, Jamz Supernova, and Authentically Plastic—pushing genre boundaries and forging diasporic dialogues (DJ Mag). Expect similar scale in 2025: dance music fused with ancestral rhythms, experimental pop, spoken word, and fashion curated by visionary collectives.
Interactive installations, pop-up markets, local cuisine, craft zones, and community stages highlight Uganda’s creative landscape. New partnerships with TRACE+ stream exclusive festival content to early bird ticket holders—an innovation that ties digital experiences to real‑world presence (MBU).
Outside music, adventurous travelers can explore local nature—rafting the Nile, bungee jumping at site, guided forest raves—and opt for travel extensions including gorilla trekking and Uganda safari through Sauti Safari (MBU).
Festival Atmosphere & Community Spirit
Nyege Nyege is much more than a music festival—it is a cultural movement that resists the mainstream. Originating in 2015 near Jinja, it channels the Luganda-word “nyege nyege,” meaning an irresistible urge to dance (Wikipedia, Visit Rwanda Gorillas). From underground roots, it grew to an astounding 60,000+ audience by 2022–24, drawing international acclaim for its authenticity and creative daring.
Expect an environment built on invitation—not exclusion. The ethos emphasizes diversity, anti-colonial narratives, gender and sexuality fluidity (not without controversy in Uganda), and a communal joy that binds local and international attendees in shared spectacle and ritualized expression (Wikipedia, exclusive.co.ug, Reddit).
Camping under the stars, dancing through the tropical nights by the Nile, sharing food and art in open-air spaces, and spontaneous connection—these are the hallmarks of Nyege Nyege.
Key Takeaways
- Dates: Nov 20–23, 2025 – firmly scheduled as the festival’s 10th anniversary.
- Venue: Kalagala Falls, near Jinja—a scenic, ancestral site now the festival’s long-term home.
- Theme: Ekiggunda Ky’omuliro – Gathering of the Flame – weaving ritual, creativity, dance, and a decade of legacy.
- Scale: Over 300 artists, six stages, film & fashion curation, adventure tourism tie‑in, and digital access via TRACE+.
- Impact: Cultural, economic, ecological—and a reimagined vision for Uganda’s creative ecosystem.
