THE PEARL RHYTHM FESTIVAL
The Pearl Rhythm Festival is the crowning event of our annual program, set for the end of October every year. It happens at the Uganda National Cultural Centre, UNCC- National Theatre gardens from 12pm to midnight. It is the only local platform on the Ugandan music scene that boasts of showcasing new fresh talent discovered, produced and mentored in-house annually. Pearl Rhythm artists and performances offer a full representation of the cultural heritage of Uganda. The festival showcases creative, sustainable, and distinct music from the pearl of Africa with strong indigenous influence. The Pearl Rhythm Festival was initiated in 2012 withthe support of development partners like Alliance Française Kampala, Uganda German Cultural Society, and Uganda National Cultural Centre (National Theatre).
The general program contributes to the formation of a Ugandan music identity, as well as a showcase of professional,l in-house produced artists with a higher quality sound. The Pearl Rhythm festival targets an urban-based audience who yearn to experience music with a cultural and indigenous texture, this group is both the local and international music lover. The music and artists that Pearl Rhythm produces are intentionally not mainstream sound, making Pearl Rhythm festival the first choice to get a true Ugandan experience.
The festival has discovered and introduced to the Ugandan music scene some of the leading fusion artists, like Suzan Kerunen, Keneth Mugabi, Aloysious Migadde, Lawrence Matovu, Giovanni Kiyinji, Ceasar Kajura, Afrie Nassanga, The Undercover Brothers, Charles Obina , Andereya Baguma, Amaru, Haka Mukiga, Sandra K, Wake the poet, and many more. The Pearl Rhythm Festival has been held for 13 years since 2012, except for the years 2020 and 2021 owing to the pandemic, The Pearl Rhythm has presented 4 new talents from the stage coach academy each year. Because of the Pearl Rhythm Festival platform, there is more demand for fusion art in Uganda and an increase in collaborations between the mainstream and international artists eager to rub off the sound and quality produced at the Pearl Rhythm Studios. Such artists include Kenzo, Iryn Namubiru, Shifa Musisi, Bebe Cool, and diaspora artists like Seby Ntege, Giovanni Kiyingi, Herbert Kinobe, The Ganda Boys in the UK, and many more.