Nyegenyege festival 2023 reloaded in Uganda
Nyege Nyege is amongst the top vibrant festivals in Africa and this annual event takes place in Jinja, a tourist spot in the Eastern region of Uganda during specified months every year where people from various parts of the world converage to enjoy the unending charms of Africa’s essential music, the usual hosting place for Nyege Nyege is at the notable Itanda falls which is 27 kilometers from Jinja town, its near iconic spots like Busowoko falls, Nile river explorers among others. This fete is for those people that are addicted to music, fashion show, fresh beers name it. If you haven’t attended one make sure you don’t miss this coming event this year from 9-12 November because it is full of fun and enjoyment. It is actually only enjoyment because people spend four days soaking up the charming music, savoring local cuisine, showcasing fashion, culture, drinking various brands of beer, participating in thrilling activities like boat cruise, dancing name it. There are also stalls that exhibit different goods produced by local and international companies.
Nyege Nyege is at the notable Itanda falls which is 27 kilometers from Jinja town, its near iconic spots like Busowoko falls, Nile river explorers among others. This fete is for those people that are addicted to music, fashion show, fresh beers name it..
The event includes East African citizens that’s to say: citizens of Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, DRC, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and South Sudan. This year it is the 8th edition of the Nyege Nyege, Africa’s essential music and arts festival returning in an exciting new location for up to four days from Nov Thursday 9th to Nov Sunday 12th 2023 upon the invitation of the mayor of Jinja and the entire Jinja city council because the city has enough accommodation for all the budgets of all the guests. Due to the fact that last year 2022 the festival was at the Itanda falls,organisers have it that it was very far and so complicated which brought about a lot of problems to the attendees, and so this year’s Nyege Nyege festival will take place with a theme of “back to the Nile”, and will take place across three sites along the Nile river, namely: the Jinja Golf Course, Source of the Nile and the Jinja Showground, Here camping will no longer be available at the site but will be offered by over 300 partnering hotels in Jinja. A two days East African music conference will unveil this year’s edition before the full music programme runs for over four days
Nyege Nyege festival is proudly and mainly sponsored by Uganda waragi (the spirit that binds us) alongside Smirnoff, Bell lager and NBS television because no brand represents Nyege Nyege better than Uganda waragi.
How to get there
There are three options to reach the Nyege Nyege festival destination namely: you can use public transport, hire a car or book a taxicab at EBB airport, though most visitors from abroad choose to rent a 4 by 4 car or use a taxicab. If you don’t want to keep an eye on the rented vehicle, you can use the EBB taxi to drop you at the Nile river because it is cheap and more convenient, you will have to reserve in advance so that the driver can wait for you at the airport on the arrival day and there will be a meet and greet then after travel direct from Entebbe airport to Jinja.
Entry permission
The festival isn’t free of charge; you have to buy a ticket that issues the entry permission. The ticket is valid for all the days starting from day one until it ends, there are discounted offers for early buyers so be sure to buy one in time before they are sold out because when demand for the tickets increases, the prices also hike up, so get your ticket like three weeks before the event.
Number of days to spend at the festival
Nyege Nyege festival takes up to four days where it usually starts on a Thursday and ends on a Sunday in the month specified by the organizers. The dates aren’t fixed coz revelers including visitors from different countries of the world spend four days treating themselves with sensational music, fresh beers, local cruise among others.
Accommodation
There is temporary installed accommodation reserved at the cost or you can either rent a tent or come with one. Some people who don’t want to use the accommodation choose to have sleepless nights because the night is filled with classical music and entertainment shows. Though this time around camping will no longer be available at the Nile but will be offered by over 300 partnering hotels around Jinja. A two days East African music conference will unveil this year’s edition before the full music programme runs for over four days.
Dressing code
Decent dressing is advised where you are allowed to put on dresses, trousers, patra jeans and any other clothing provided it covers the private body nevertheless no one is allowed to walk naked.
What role does Nyege Nyege festival play towards the tourism industry
- Music and dance are a growing part of the creative tourism industry, like other festivals and cultural displays, they are part of everyday spaces of leisure, a source of artistic expression and audience pleasure.
- Allowing Nyege Nyege to continue also reflects Uganda’s preparedness to handle large numbers of tourists in the aftermath of the pandemic by providing opportunities for the sale of locally produced materials for improved local livelihoods, and it is also an opportunity for cross –cultural interactions.
- The electronic dance music community is a new niche with enthusiastic promoters recruiting new members to build a like-minded community which boasts diverse audiences with diverse artistic tastes and consists of smaller groups of musicians, fans and promoters.
If the government departments and agencies responsible for tourism can work with the organizers of Nyege Nyege to draw the best alternatives to promote and conduct the event and still preserve our cultures, there the event will not receive any backlash. if you haven’t been at the Nile before make sure you don’t miss this coming event this year from 9-12 November 2023 because it is full of fun and enjoyment.