Swangz Avenue

Swangz Avenue is a Ugandan record label, music production house, and full-service creative agency based in Kampala. 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, 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), Iryn Namubiru, 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 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. 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, Coca-Cola, 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 and Konshens.

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
* Azawi
* 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:
* Goodlyfe Crew ("Where You Are")
* Iryn Namubiru
* Aziz Azion
* Vampino
* Michael Ross
* Viboyo Oweyo

References

External links

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