This is the Muzungu’s story from 2014. I had a blast! Scroll down to the bottom of this page for the Muzungu’s tips on how to enjoy the Kampala City Festival!
PHOTO Kampala Capital City Authority (@kccaug) on Instagram
We’re still waiting to hear the line-up of musicians for Kampala City Festival 2015, this Sunday 4 October. Dozens – hundreds? – of Uganda’s favorite musicians and entertainers will be performing live for FREE. Expect the streets of Kampala to be absolutely jam-packed!
Uganda is without doubt one of the friendliest places in the world. I don’t think most Ugandans realize how truly charming and hospitable you are. I had some lovely greetings from random strangers when I attended last year’s Kampala City Festival:
“Uganda is a very safe place!”
“This is the dance of the Imbalu – from Mbale! Ka-la-loo!”
They were really chuffed that the Muzungu was at the Kampala City Festival, and very proud of their country. Rightly so.
At 3 o’clock in the afternoon, there’s a lovely vibe, no aggravation and no drunkenness (although I can’t guarantee how pumped up everyone is by the end of the night).
Tips on how to enjoy the Kampala City Festival
What a treat to reclaim the normally congested streets of Kampala streets for DANCING! As I walk-dance down the road, wiggling my kabina, 20 teenage girls break into screams of ecstasy laughing at the Muzungu dancing. Dancing does not discriminate, everyone dances together: thousands of Ugandan boys and girls, mothers and young children, boda boda drivers, teenagers on roller skates and vacant-looking teenagers who are expecting-to-see-something-but-not-sure-quite-what.
Walking DANCING! the streets. Tips on how to enjoy the Kampala City Festival
I wonder what the average Kampala resident makes of the festival cum carnival? The spirit of carnival, with its masks and fancy costumes, has its roots in Africa, via a torturous journey that includes slavery, translocation from West Africa to the West Indies and then onto Brazil. The Rio de Janeiro Carnival, the most famous in the world, has its roots in the carnivals and masquerade balls invented by the freed slaves of Trinidad in the Caribbean. In Europe, our biggest street festival is the Notting Hill Carnival, London, pioneered by the black community that settled from the West Indies.
The carnival has come full circle: from Africa and back to Africa – to Kampala!
Here in Kampala, we don bright yellow Afro wigs, red Mohican wigs, facepaints and masks. Kids wear multicoloured sunglasses.
The Muzungu gets Uganda fever too! Uganda flag hat – the must-have accessory of Kampala City Festival 2014
On street corners, young men set up photo printing machines. Vendors sell samosas, groundnuts, icecream and ice lollies. Ladies carry plastic buckets of fried cassava on their head. Children line up to have their faces painted. The lady painting the child’s face cleans the paint from the brush in a recycled Waragi bottle.
Vendor on a street corner in Kampala. Note the security checks going on behind him
By 4 o’clock, the sun now blazing, the Uganda Wildlife Authority Mountain gorilla looks tired. He looks like he could do with a nap and some bamboo. He’s running his own personal marathon today in the full glare of the scorching sun: wearing a heavy plastic suit that is half a centimeter thick and covered with thick fur. The throng of onlookers walking alongside UWA’s float stop to gawp and take photos of him. It’s the closest they have ever come to a gorilla, and they’re so excited. “Big ups” to the UWA gorilla.
“Ka – loo – loo!”
“Big ups” to the UWA gorilla (hiding behind the bamboo). He was a real hit with Kampalans, all wanting a photo
The busiest intersection is on Kampala Road above the railway, a heaving body of humans, corporate floats and banners and Kampalans pushing towards the stages looking for their favorite musicians. Onstage next to Station House, I watch Eddie Kenzo – my hero! I can’t get enough of Sitya Loss.
“Dansez, dansez….”
Always eager to experience something new, I try my first Kasese tonto brew. Have you tried it? (It looks a bit like someone has done a short call in the cup – but tastes a lot nicer!) So much so, I return for a second cup…
Tips on how to enjoy the Kampala City Festival
Right at the point where I can move neither forwards nor backwards through the heaving crowd, two men force their way through with a huge sack of ice. Wafts of smoke drift through the crowd, from barbecues laden with goat (and some dubious-looking sausages).
Bell Lager bikers along Kampala Road. Kampala City Festival 2014
Tins of Bell Lager are on sale here and there but I see few empty tins on the streets. It seems most Festival goers are taking sodas (I have never seen so much ‘pop’ available) and bujeera and local brew stored in cavernous plastic bins and served in empty Coke and Sprite bottles.
I’m loving the Kampala City Festival. Ugandans are such beautiful people. (Is the Kasese tonto going to my head a little bit?)
What is the theme of Kampala City Festival 2015?
According to KCCA, Kampala Capital City Authority, two million people are expected to attend the 2015 Kampala City Festival, the biggest street party in East Africa, on Sunday, October 4.
The them of Kampala City Festival 2015 is COLOUR!
“This year’s theme is COLOUR. Kampala is a Cosmopolitan City, so, Mr/Mrs Indian, please bring out those beautiful saris, the Rwandese, get the stunning Mishananas ready, the Masai remember to show up in those coloured, striking wrappers…the list of exciting attire from across the world is endless, but whichever your culture is, prepare to show off this October” says Jennifer Musisi, the Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).
This year Uganda is Chair of the UN Committee on Climate Change meaning that in 2015, the Kampala City Festival will also be drawing attention to environmental issues.
The annual Kampala City Festival – now in its fourth year – brings together everyone who lives in Kampala. It’s gonna be mega!
Tips on how to enjoy the Kampala City Festival
- Leave the car at home.
- If you can, park far away from Kampala city center and Central Business District and walk. Even boda bodas are refused entry to the area cordoned off for Kampala City Festival.
- There are lines of security checks to enter the procession route. No-one gets past without being frisked. There will be lots of security, both uniformed and plainclothed.
- Route map – for this Sunday 4 Oct #KampalaCityFestival – woop woop – #EastAfrica‘s biggest street festival! #VisitUganda
Route map for the #KampalaCityFestival Sunday October 4th 2015
- The main Kampala City Festival route is Kampala Road from Watoto Church to Jinja Road lights (junction) and roads will be closed all day. The route also includes Buganda Road, Speke Road, Coleville Street, Pilkington Road, Sayid Barre (Yusuf Lule Road) and Nile Avenue.
- Wear comfortable shoes, and ladies, don’t take a huge handbag. With the crowds thick in places, you will be glad you left it at home.
- Do you really need to take your fancy phone? Pickpockets love these type of crowded events, wherever you go in the world.
- Arrange to meet friends before you leave home. Either meet up first and travel together, or agree a time and place to meet. Stick to it! Although you may want to call someone during the festival, it is far safer to leave all your valuables at home.
- Taking the kids? They will love the KIDS’ ZONE in Constitutional Square, Kampala There is plenty for them to do there but the square, and access to it, will be packed.
- Don’t drink too much. I’m not sure how many toilets you are going to find along the route. Secondly, I’m not sure what kind of state they will be in. Lastly, if you are boozing, don’t forget you have to get home once the Kampala City Festival is over – as do another one or two million people. If you’re a bit drunk, it could become a bit of a nightmare for you.
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Tips on how to enjoy the Kampala City Festival
- There will be lots of stalls selling different types of food, from full plates of Ugandan food, to fried chicken, and more. Snacks and drinks include carrot, pineapple and passionfruit juice; popcorn, candy floss and beer, samosas, G nuts (groundnuts), ice cream and ice lollies. If you want to eat healthily, or drink water, bring your own.
- The Kampala City Festival fireworks display starts just after 11 o’clock at night.
- If you absolutely have to take your phone or your camera with you, share your photos on Instagram, KCCA on Twitter or Facebook
Are you going to the Kampala City Festival?
What are your tips and recommendations for having a good time at the Kampala City Festival? Which performers are you looking forward to seeing ?
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