Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Get ready to feel the buzz, because Smirnoff is cranking up the party dial for Etania’s debut headliner moment. The brand has announced its support for her highly anticipated debut show, “Becoming The Life of the Party”, which is slated for April 4th at the …
Read More »Save The Date: 4th Annual iKON Awards August 15
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The 2026 iKON Awards will officially take place on Saturday, August 15, with increased participation from international filmmakers across Africa. iKON Awards, the Grand Stage of African Cinema, will also return to the Serena Hotel, Kampala, and will be broadcast live across major media …
Read More »iKON Awards partners with Blue Pictures Entertainment to expand global opportunities for Ugandan filmmakers
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | iKON Awards and Blue Pictures Entertainment have inked a partnership, appointing iKON Awards as SIRA’s execution and implementation partner in Uganda. The partnership entails a signed Memorandum of Understanding to distribute films, co-produce, and market access opportunities for Ugandan creatives. Blue Pictures Entertainment is …
Read More »iKON Awards and Reach A Hand Uganda unveil 2026 Fellowship Cohort
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | iKON Awards and Reach A Hand Uganda have unveiled the 2026 cohort of the iKON Young Filmmakers Fellowship Program at an event at the Reach A Hand Uganda offices in Lungujja. The ten selected fellows include Mutya Manisuli Arafah, Sean Kalinaki, Kaitana Guma Davis, …
Read More »Thapelo Mokoena holds masterclass for Ugandan filmmakers
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | South African actor, producer, and media entrepreneur Thapelo Mokoena has held a masterclass for Ugandan filmmakers under the Africa Film Forum, an initiative of the iKON Awards. The masterclass formed part of his official visit to Uganda ahead of the iKON Awards “Beyond Borders” …
Read More »Bold & Precise: A printmaking exhibition at AKA gallery
The group exhibition explores the different techniques of the medium while emphasizing the relevance of this centuries old art form in the contemporary times ARTS | DOMINIC MUWANGUZI | Printmaking is a centuries-old medium that involves intricate and rigorous creative processes like sketching, carving, layering and inking to create stunning …
Read More »The makings of peace
COMMENT | VANESSA BADRE | Like the air we breathe, peace does not typically command our attention until we lose it. That is why the study of peace is inextricably linked to that of war: it seeks to understand the root causes of conflict and illuminate ways to end or …
Read More »South African Netflix star Thapelo Mokoena to visit Uganda next month
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | South African actor, filmmaker, and entrepreneur Thapelo Mokoena will visit Uganda from 12th to 16th February 2026. The five-day visit, organised by Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) and the Ikon Film and Television Awards, is a part of the 2026 Ikon Film and Television Awards roadmap, …
Read More »Inside Uganda’s video halls, ‘video jokers’ transform Hollywood blockbusters into local entertainment
SPECIAL FEATURE | DAMIEN POLLARD | If you walk into a video hall in Uganda your attention will probably go straight to a person sitting at the front of the audience. Speaking rapidly into a microphone, they comment loudly and continuously, often drowning out the sound of the film …
Read More »How culture is becoming relevant again to a new generation
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Across Uganda, a quiet but powerful shift is taking place. A new generation of young people is choosing to look inward, towards their roots, stories, and shared heritage, as a source of pride and identity. In a world long dominated by foreign cultural influence, …
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