Nyege Nyege Collective

Free dance parties down the deep end of Howey Place busting with afro-galactic bass from Nyege Nyege Collective.

A carnival. A collective. A movement. The name “Nyege Nyege” is derived from the Luganda word "ekinyegenyege," which means “irresistible urge to dance”. For Night Trade, the Nyege Nyege crew are hooking that energy into Melbourne’s laneways with a roster of their favourite artists to celebrate their ten years as a festival.

Founded in 2014, the annual Nyege Nyege Festival, held in Jinja, Uganda has become a seminal space for afro-galactic electronic music and queer expression, despite consistent attempts from religious conservatives to shut it down. The collective’s two affiliated labels, Nyege Nyege Tapes and Hakuna Kulala have released over 35 albums and toured over 400 international shows. 

For their Night Trade residency, they’ve announced five incredible artists. Kampire, a Ugandan artist known for her bass-heavy sets. MC Yallah a Kenyan rapper based in Uganda with a big energy and poetic flow. DJ Travella represents a new wave of Singeli producers who are driving Tanzania's breakneck dance sound. Hemedi is an artist and dancer, equipped with surreal street wisdom and rapid-fire lyrics, who’s also a force behind the global rise of Singeli. And Lady Hash is a pioneering DJ who’s been introducing Afro-house and Amapiano to the Ethiopian dance floors. 

Joining them over the four days are local heroes from DJ Manchild’s Old Plates.