Whereas party-starting music and celebratory motifs are undoubtedly coded into the DNA of Ugandan music, the genre has undergone a textural evolution over the last few years, thanks to a class of rising singers and performers whose emotive delivery is helping broaden the genre’s range.
Ugandan-born singer, Expect XHAVI (real name Byarugaba Castine Praise), is one of the newest voices at the forefront of this movement (joining the likes of Kohen Jaycee, Dreventy, Shawn Maine, and Mike Mungu) who are turning emotions into high art via a soul-inflected variant of Ugandan pop that’s so deceptively tender it almost masks the depth of his message.
Before his breakout single “Mon Cherie” blew up, the Entebbe born and Zzana raised singer was releasing syrupy songs about the life of a young man balancing love and ambition. His six track EP Kaylah or Nellie holds some of his most defining work, blending Luganda and English lyrics with soft piano and zouk grit on songs like “Nseerera” and “All Ice”. Even back then, tracks such as “Circles” hinted at the emotive artist he was becoming.
In many ways, 2025 has been the year when his soulful sound converged with the Ugandan mainstream audience, finding the singer attain mainstream acclaim, thanks to “Mon Cherie”, a song whose success was further extended when influencer Melissa Mulungi made a video praising the track and XHAVI’s voice. The sound of the hook “omulungi tasaba” quickly became a popular phrase on social media, sparking countless user generated videos and giving the track extra life.
Expect XHAVI got his start back then in high school where he performed in live band and often for his dorm mates. His first song was written with his childhood friend Mpanda Samuel, a moment that sparked his drive to take music seriously. It was the lockdown of 2020 that offered him the first opportunity to record his very first single “Kukumba”. Having interfaced with MiMo of MiMo Records in the early days of his career, their instant chemistry got them to work together, and he has since been signed to him. Armed with his almost easy song writing capability and Mimo’s over a decade as a producer, keen knowledge of musical artistry and the industry’s nuances.
Expect XHAVI about a fortnight ago released yet another single ‘Tomansa’ that’s captivating audiences too.
With this momentum, admirable consistency and more singles to his name plus an ever-growing fan base, Expect XHAVI is slowly welling up an irrepressible avalanche on the music industry; etching his clear-cut mark with candid lyricism and storytelling that’s sure to position himself as a frontline Gen-Z musical prodigy. His journey to stardom is one’s that very bright and his voice one to keep watching.