Swangz Avenue is a Ugandan record label, music production house, and full-service creative agency based in

Kampala Kampala (, ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,875,834 (2024) and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central Division, Kampala, Kawempe Division, Kawempe, Makindy ...

. Founded in 2008 by musician and producer Benon Mugumbya, it has grown from a simple audio studio into one of East Africa's leading entertainment and marketing companies. The company manages the careers of Ugandan artists Winnie Nwagi, Vinka, Elijah Kitaka, and

Azawi Priscilla Zawedde (born 2 February 1996) better known as Azawi, is a Ugandan singer-songwriter and dancer. She was signed to Swangz Avenue (record label) in 2019. Her musical genre is Afrobeats in both Luganda and English. She became the first ...

, and for producing music, television commercials, and music events.

History

Swangz Avenue was started in 2008 by Benon Mugumbya, a former member of the Ugandan music duo Benon and Vamposs. He initially set up a small audio recording studio in his garage in the suburb of Makindye, Kampala. The studio quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality music, attracting many of Uganda's top artists at the time, including the

Goodlyfe Crew Radio & Weasel was a Ugandan music Duo that performed under their record label Goodlyfe Crew a Ugandan music group with lead performers being singers Moses Radio (born Moses Nakintije Ssekibogo) and easel Manizo(born Douglas Mayanja). Moses R ...

( Radio & Weasel),

Iryn Namubiru Irene Gladys Namubiru, also known as Iryn Namubiru, (born 13 December 1981) is a Ugandan female vocalist. She is a light-lyric, alto voiced, Afro-pop, recording and performing artist. Background Namubiru was born in the Central Region of Ugan ...

, and GNL Zamba. The company expanded its operations beyond audio production. It ventured into artist management, video production, and eventually became a major player in the advertising industry, creating campaigns for multinational corporations like

MTN Uganda MTN Uganda is the largest telecom company in Uganda, with 11.2 million subscribers, accounting for 55 percent market share, as of 30 June 2017. By 31 December 2019, its customer base had increased to 12.6 million customers. In March 2021, the Uga ...

and MultiChoice Uganda. In 2018, Swangz Avenue celebrated its 10th anniversary with a major "All-Star Concert" at Lugogo Cricket Oval, headlined by Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist

Tarrus Riley Omar "Tarrus" Riley, Order of Distinction, CD (born April 26, 1979, Bronx, New York (state), New York, United States) is a Jamaican-American reggae singer and member of the Rastafari movement.Kenner, Rob (21 August 2009"Reggae Singer With a Leg ...

. The event featured performances by nearly all the major artists the label had worked with over the decade and was a significant milestone in the Ugandan music industry.

Divisions and services

Swangz Avenue operates as a multi-faceted creative agency with several key business areas:

Artist management and music production

This is the company's most publicly known division. It signs, develops, and manages the careers of recording artists. The label is credited with launching and elevating the careers of several of Uganda's top female artists. It provides services including music and video production, branding, and marketing for its artists.

Advertising and commercial production

A significant part of Swangz Avenue's business is creating and producing advertising campaigns for corporate clients. They have produced some of Uganda's most memorable television commercials, radio jingles, and digital campaigns for major brands such as MTN,

Airtel Uganda Airtel Uganda Limited is a mobile communications and information technology services provider in Uganda. The company also offers mobile funds transfer and banking services known as Airtel Payments Bank. Airtel Uganda Limited is a subsidiary of ...

Coca-Cola Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a cola soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. In 2013, Coke products were sold in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, with consumers drinking more than 1.8 billion company beverage servings ...

, and Bell Lager.

Film and television

The company has a film division that produces content for television and cinema. In 2023, it was reported that Swangz Avenue was working on its first feature film.

Events management

Swangz Avenue organises and promotes concerts and events, including its own anniversary shows and international artist tours in Uganda. A notable project was the "Uganda-Jamaica Connect," which involved collaborations and concerts with Jamaican dancehall artists like

Busy Signal A busy signal (or busy tone or engaged tone) in telephony is an audible call-progress tone or audible signal to the calling party that indicates failure to complete the requested connection of that particular telephone call. The busy signa ...

and

Konshens Garfield Delano Spence, also known as Konshens, is a Jamaican dancehall recording artist, deejay, singer and businessman. Biography Prior to Spence's solo career, he was a member of the duo SoJah with his brother Delus . ...

Artists

Swangz Avenue has been instrumental in the careers of many Ugandan artists, either through record production or full-time management.

Current artists

* Winnie Nwagi *

* Zafaran * Elijah Kitaka

Former artists

* Irene Ntale (2013–2017) * Vinka (transitioned to a partnership deal in 2019) * Sera (deceased) * Young Zee

Notable production clients

The studio has produced music for a number of artists, including: *

("Where You Are") *

* Aziz Azion *

Vampino Vampino, born Elvis Kirya, is a Ugandan dance hall musician and actor who began his career in the early 2000s debuting his acting career in Nana Kagga's 2012 film, The life. He was one half of the duo "Benon and Vamposs." He is a brother to musi ...

Michael Ross Michael or Mike Ross may refer to: Politics * Mike Ross (politician) (born 1961), former United States Representative from Arkansas's 4th congressional district * Michael Ross (Washington politician) (1941–2007), member of the Washington House ...

* Viboyo Oweyo

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Swangz Avenue Record labels established in 2008 2008 establishments in Uganda Mass media in Kampala