Kampala: The Amplify Uganda Music Expo (AUMEX) came alive on Friday at MOTIV Kampala, drawing hundreds of creators, industry professionals, and music enthusiasts under the theme “Building a Scalable Future for Ugandan Music.”
Organized in partnership with Guinness Smooth and Talent Africa Group, AUMEX served as a dynamic platform for meaningful discussions on strengthening Uganda’s creative ecosystem, covering topics from music rights and royalties to talent export and brand partnerships.
The day kicked off with a UGATUNES demo led by CEO Shadrack Kisame, showcasing Uganda’s innovative music distribution platform aimed at empowering local artists. Insightful sessions followed, including “Stop Waiting to Be Discovered! What Artist Development Really Looks Like,” where industry experts discussed the investments necessary for building sustainable creative careers.
The conference also featured hands-on training for aspiring DJs at the Ssese Nation DJ Workshop and a panel on maximizing music royalties, emphasizing the critical importance of metadata and publishing in today’s music landscape.
The highlight of the event was the AUMEX Showcase, an electrifying evening concert that celebrated Uganda’s emerging talent. The night culminated in a high-energy performance by South African hip-hop sensation Nasty C, who took the stage at 11 PM as part of his Ivyson Tour. He captivated the audience with hits like “Strings and Bling,” “Soft,” and “SMA,” leaving fans exhilarated.
Following his performance, Nasty C engaged with fans, further solidifying his connection with the Ugandan audience. Denise Nazzinda from Guinness Smooth emphasized the brand’s commitment to supporting young creators through their “Make It Yours” campaign, stating, “We believe in the power of creativity to transform lives. Through this initiative, we are giving emerging talent the stage and confidence to reimagine what’s possible.”
Aly Alibhai, CEO of Talent Africa Group, shared why his company joined this year’s edition: “I attended the first AUMEX and was blown away by the vision and energy of the young creatives. Being in the business of music ourselves, we saw this as the right platform to nurture, train, and showcase Uganda’s fresh talent, helping them understand how the industry works and how to scale their craft to reach global audiences.”
The Ivyson Kampala Tour was proudly sponsored by Talent Africa Group, Guinness Smooth, Toorly, NRG Radio, Mighty Rides, Fairway Hotel, Safe Boda, Africa Billboard, and Hype. Through this partnership, AUMEX, Guinness Smooth, and Talent Africa reaffirmed their commitment to empowering Uganda’s creative community, championing platforms that inspire originality, collaboration, and bold self-expression.
