Hip hop music has been popular in Africa since the early 1980s due to widespread African American influence. In 1985, hip hop reached Senegal, a French-speaking country in West Africa. Some of the first Senegalese rappers were Munyaradzi Nhidza Lida, M.C. Solaar, and Positive Black Soul.
Uganda, is now ranked number three in Africa as far as music and entertainment is concerned. Uganda is home to over 65 different ethnic groups and tribes, and they form the basis of all indigenous music. The Baganda, being the most musically vibrant nationality in the country, has defined what constitutes culture and music of Uganda over the last two centuries.
Shamele Mackie, known professionally as Papoose, is an American rapper. Well known for his freestyles and prolific mixtape output, Papoose has released four studio albums and 29 mixtapes since 1998.
Saba Saba, also known as Krazy Native is a rapper and social activist from Uganda.
Peter Miles , born Peter Kanyike, is a Ugandan reggae and dancehall artist. He sings in Luganda, Patwa and English. He appeared on the Vuqa cypher, A song alongside rappers Bigtril, The mith, Ruyonga, St Nelly Sade and more others in 2016.
Jeff Kintu, better known by his stage name Lyrical G, is a Ugandan rapper, songwriter, record producer, and vocalist. In 2016, he was named among MTV Base's best hip hop artistes from Uganda.
Maurice Kirya born in Jinja and raised in Najjanakumbi to Tonny Munobbi and Sophie Baguma.
Levixone is a Ugandan gospel musician born on December 7, 1992. He began his music career in 2013 and has since released several hit songs. He has won several awards including the 2018 Groove Award for East African Male Artiste of the Year.
St. Nelly-Sade, born Nsubuga Nelson, is a Ugandan Lugaflow rapper. He has performed on national and international stages including Bayimba International Festival of the Arts, LaBa! Arts Festival, Uganda Hip Hop Summit, as well as performances in South Sudan, Arusha, Tanzania and in various regions all over east Africa.
I-Am Enygma, better known by his stage name Enygma, is a Ugandan rapper, record producer, executive producer and entrepreneur known for his wordplay laced rhymes and always wearing a mask on his face so as to conceal his identity. He rose to fame in December 2010 following the runaway success of his single, Hustler's Night featuring The mith, Keko and Navio. This was followed up by even more celebrated hits in 2011, namely F.U.M.E.M.E. and Ten Reasons. He also represents one third of occasional rap group Klarity alongside The Mith and Lyrikal Proof. Also frequently collaborates with other artists such as Ruyonga, Maurice Kirya and Lyrical G. As an entrepreneur, Enygma conducts private business, mostly outside of the entertainment industry.
Alex Julius Kwesigabo, better known by his stage name Flex D'Paper, is a Ugandan rapper and songwriter born and raised in Kampala. Starting off his music career, Flex D'Paper was part of the high school rap group, The Rapaholix, which he started with friends, Dasper Cosine and later joined by Apass as an affiliate with whom the trio put out a mix tape, The Eviction Notice that included chart topping singles like "Burning", "Party Life" and "Follow Me" which topped countdowns in Uganda such as NTV and Sanyu FM. Flex D'Paper was part of the 2014 UG Cypher including the finest Ugandan rappers: Navio, Keko, Big Tril, Don MC, AirporTaxi rappers St. Nelly Sade, GNL Zamba, DJ Global, JB, The Mith, Ruyonga, and Atlas.
Undercover Brothers Ug also simply known as Undercover Brothers are a Ugandan music duo composed of guitarist and vocalist Jay K Mulungi and vocalist Timothy Kirya, whose music career sparked off when they won the auditions and represented Uganda in the sixth season of East Africa's biggest singing competition Tusker Project Fame. The duo released their first album titled At Dawn in December 2014. In December 2016, their song Nsikatila was nominated in the Best R&B Song category at HiPipo Music Awards (#HMA) 2017.
Giovanni Kiyingi, is a Ugandan folk singer-songwriter and world music artist. He is known for his skills as a multi-instrumentalist who plays the local Ugandan fiddle (endingidi), akogo, adungu, guitar, harmonica, flute, djembe, calabash, congas, drums, and maracas, among others. He was one of the Ugandan artists chosen to welcome Pope Francis to Uganda at Kololo on 27 November 2015.
Sheebah Karungi, professional also known as Queen Karma and Sheebah, is a Ugandan musician, dancer, actress and feminist activist. She debuted her acting career in Queen of Katwe as Shakira. After quitting Obsessions, a dance group she joined in 2006, she started making music and later rose to recognition upon the release of her hit single "Ice Cream". In 2014, she released her debut project Ice Cream, a five-track EP which did well commercially and led her to win back-to-back HiPipo Music Awards Best Female Artist in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. She also won the Artist of the Year award twice, in 2017, 2018, and 2019 at the HiPipo Music Awards.
The Life is a Ugandan drama feature film created, written and directed by Nana Kagga. The film features Ugandan actors including Gasuza Lwanga, Maureen Nankya, Elvis ‘Vamposs’ Kirya, Tibba Murungi, Susan Nava. M-NET secured film screening rights and the film was shown on its Africa Magic channels.
Matte Edgar, better known by his stage name Eddie Wizzy, is a Ugandan dancer and choreographer. He was nominated in the Afrimma Awards 2016 and 2017 in the African Best Dancer category.
John Blaq is a Ugandan musician, songwriter & performing artist.
Fauziah Nakiboneka is a Ugandan actress, singer, dancer and humanitarian. She is a lead actress in The Ebonies, one of Uganda's most successful and oldest stage drama groups.
Reagan Muhairwe, commonly known as Ray G Rhiganz, is a Ugandan singer and songwriter. He mainly sings heritage music in Runyankore. He started singing in 2009 while at school until 2014 when he broke through with his hit song "Amarari". Ray has shared big stages with international artists like Eddy Kenzo, Meddy and Jose Chameleone on the Johnnie Walker Highball tour in Mbarara, He is among Allan Toniks, Sister Charity, Juliana Kanyomozi who come from Western Uganda. He has also collaborated with music heavy weights like Bebe Cool, Voltage music, Spice Diana, Serena Bata, Levixone, Truth 256.
Kampala Boy is the first studio album by Ugandan musician Flex D'Paper, released on 10 December 2021. The album features guest appearances from Swae Lee on the intro and songs with Navio, Fik Fameica, A Pass, Keko, Shena skies, Wake the Poet, Mozelo Kidz, Kemishan, Lagum the rapper. The production includes Aethan Music, Mio Made, Sam Lamara, Wake the Poet, Bad Chwezi and Lucian.
