Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) has today October 15th, 2020 held the first ever Performing Artists Conference,  having launched season two of their drama series ‘Kyaddala’,  therefore this gathering was intendedto bring together over 60 artists, comedians, artist manager, creatives, as well as reputable panelists, to connect, network and learn.

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The event was streaming live on its Facebook page, and Hosted by comedian and socialite Martha Kay. Media Personalities Dougie Nyc, Anatalia Oze (who was to moderate the session on Intellectual Property), Artists Allan Toniks, Pastor Wilson Bugembe, Nina Roz, Nutty Neithan, Kazibwe Daniel alias Ragga Dee, Producers Just Josei, Artin Pro, and DJ Apeman (SilverBack), and Comedian Salvador Idringi Patrick, and Prominent names from the Entrepreneurship and Financial Management sector to grace the conference include Innocent Nahabwe, Rajiv Ruperelia and Aly Alibhai who were panelists at the event were all in attendance, as well as top notch creative including Ivan Kifumba, Ambassada, Maureen Andinda, Evas Kansiime Atwine.

The conference follows the adverse effects COVID-19 has had on the Ugandan economy and the world over, including creatives. The Recent estimates by the Ministry of Gender and Social Development indicate that artists across the creative value chain in Uganda lost at least 150 billion Uganda Shillings in income for the first two months of the lockdown.

Topics including financial management, intellectual property, personal branding and earning from Digital Distribution, were to the 5 focal points of the conference; whose main aim was bringing the various artists, comedians, and creatives to connect, network, and learn follows the adverse effects COVID-19 has had on the Ugandan economy and the world over, including creatives; as they get equipped with knowledge and information on how they can enterprise and thrive amidst the pandemic or any other unprecedented events in the future.

“COVID19 has had severe effects on the lives of our cultural icons and the performing arts sector in Uganda, greatly affecting their livelihoods. The ban on public gatherings has made it nearly impossible for artists to earn money during the lockdown.” Humphrey Nabimanya, the Founder & Team Leader of Reach A Hand Uganda mentioned. Reach A Hand Uganda believes it is important for these artists to be equipped with knowledge and information on how they can enterprise and thrive amidst the pandemic or any other unprecedented events in the future.

“This is a very brilliant idea because, at this very moment, everyone is lost. This is the right time for artists to face their challenges and better themselves by listening to people who have made it in life. Performing Artists need to understand life outside the music industry because life goes beyond just music.” Reach A Hand Uganda Cultural Icon, Geosteady mentioned.

Mr. Innocent Nahabwe, one of the panelists in the Entrepreneurship and Financial Management topic advised artist to produce music that resonates with them, their personalities and avoid employing ghost writers who write songs that artists do not connect with and hence making it hard for them themselves to push it too.

Speaking at the event, on the segment about Entrepreneurship; Ali Alibahi of Talent Africa encouraged artists to patent their work as a way of having full control of it.

Renown producer Just Josei applauded the Tidal and MTN partnership that accepts seamless payments, through Mobile Money (MTN Momo), and says it allows artists to earn off some streaming revenue. He concluded his submission with remarks to fellow artists/ music creators to do a lot more when it comes to digitizing their work.  

The event was highly successful considering it is the first of its kind, we can only hope the artist and various stake holders put in perspective and practice majority of what has been discussed today.   

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