Kampala came alive last Thursday as the inaugural Afro Exchange Creative Summit, transformed Dstrkt 24 into a vibrant melting pot of sound, style, art and storytelling.
The atmosphere buzzed with energy as some of Uganda’s biggest and most exciting creatives gathered under one roof to explore the future of African creativity. Anchored on the theme “Uganda’s Creative Identity in a Connected Africa,” the summit delivered electrifying conversations and unforgettable cultural moments.
From the fashion world, Santa Anzo delivered a powerful and deeply personal reflection on purpose-driven identity, resilience and building a fashion legacy long before social media became a creative lifeline.
In a compelling counterpoint, Axarya highlighted the transformative power of digital platforms in today’s creative economy.
“My very first client wasn’t a family member, a relative or a friend. It was someone from social media,” he revealed, underscoring how technology has reshaped access and opportunity for modern creatives.
Abryanz spoke about structure and the business side of fashion, while Rebecca Nanjego spoke to polices and the systems of the creative sphere. On the music front, Joshua Baraka and Troy spoke about hunger, ambition and the relentless pursuit of craft, inspiring the room with stories of dreaming beyond borders.
“There is a saying that a good artiste is a broke artist but wait until you’re writing a song in Ibiza,” Joshua Baraka joked, drawing laughter and loud applause from the audience.
Other panelists on the music discussion included Steve Keys, DJ Vans and Abaasa. Guests engaged in live painting and drawing, expressing their own creative voices as Johnnie Walker cocktails flowed through the night.
The culinary journey was just as rich, blending Ugandan and Nigerian flavours in a menu that ranged from golden puff-puff and smoky jollof rice to perfectly spiced chicken, symbolising the very spirit of cross-cultural exchange.
The night reached a powerful emotional peak with Xenson, who delivered an unforgettable spoken-word performance that left the room in complete silence – a rare, pin-drop moment.
Moments later, DJ Vans took control of the decks, closing the summit with high-energy sounds that had guests dancing late into the night.
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