By Caroline Nakire
As August 2025 marks a monumental milestone, Afrigo Band—Uganda’s longest-standing musical ensemble—celebrates 50 years of crafting the soundtrack to a nation’s journey. Their enduring presence, from Kampala’s smoky 1970s clubs to digital platforms today, is evidence of a rare cultural achievement.
The band was formed by a group of eight musicians led by their band leader, vocalist, and alto saxophonist, Moses Matovu, in 1975, who continued to lead the band on its 38th anniversary. Playing to their fans at home in Uganda, the group tours regularly in Europe and the United States to play to Ugandans in the Diaspora. He has been performing with the band since and is its leader, as of February 2015.
Moses Matovu and fellow musicians emerging from the Cranes Band, Afrigo—born from the phrase “Africa go forward”—came into being amid the turmoil of Idi Amin’s regime.
Their early venues included Silk Club, Little Flowers, and the Tropical Nightclub, where they fused funk, jazz, and Congolese rhumba with Luganda lyrics, creating a sound deeply rooted in local identity.
During the 1980s—a decade marred by dictatorship, civil war, and economic hardship—Afrigo provided solace, performing at venues like Nsambya Railway Club and the Bat Valley Theatre. Their music, with hits such as Olulimi Lwange, Afrigo Batuuse, and Speed, became a dancefloor lifeline for many Ugandans.
The ‘90s brought relative stability and commercial appeal, with the addition of vocalists like Joanita Kawalya and Rachael Magoola injecting new energy into the band’s sound. Songs like Tonyiiga, Jim, and Emiziro became modern classics.
To date, Afrigo has released over 20 albums and more than 200 songs, becoming an indelible part of Uganda’s pop music heritage.
Afrigo never chased fleeting trends. They forged a sonic identity anchored in Luganda, storytelling, and live musicality—making their music enduring rather than disposable.
At a typical show, you’ll find teens dancing beside retirees—proof of their cross-generational reach. As vocalist Joanita Kawalya puts it:
“Seeing Afrigo live is not just a concert. It’s a ritual… You don’t watch them, you join them.”
Afrigo has outlasted political upheavals and national shifts, becoming a steadfast cultural cornerstone. Their music is woven into national celebrations, weddings, and everyday life.
With active musicians mentored by the band and Moses Matovu’s tireless leadership, Afrigo operates as a “school of music” that carries its ethos to the next generation.
The 50th Anniversary Concert: Legends of Sound—Afrigo@50, a spectacular concert, is set for 16 August 2025 at Kampala’s Millennium Grounds, featuring Afrigo veterans including Matovu, Magoola, Kawalya, Sarah Namulondo, Herbert Kigundu, Charles Busuulwa, and more.
The event promises festival-style reinventions of their classic hits, plus a special performance by Congolese star Koffi Olomidé, adding a cross-border musical flair.
Talent Africa Group organises the show in partnership with Stanbic Bank Uganda—via its FlexiPay digital platform—as ticketing partner.
Ticket prices range from UGX 50,000 (early bird Bronze) to exclusive tables priced at UGX 3M (Gold), 5M (Diamond), and 10M (Platinum).
Afrigo Band’s 50-year journey is more than music—it’s a testament to cultural resilience. In a landscape often dominated by fleeting fame, Afrigo stands as proof that authenticity, craft, and connection endures.
The celebrations will also include documentaries, archival visuals, coffee-table books, and possibly a limited vinyl release, preserving their legacy for generation to come.