On Friday night, South African rap heavyweight Nasty C brought pure chaos, electricity, and unforgettable energy to the AUMEX Showcase, turning the MOTIV Media Lab into a roaring sea of lights, smoke, and sound. Performing before an ecstatic crowd of over 750 fans, the multi-award-winning Durban native gave Kampala a night that will be remembered as one of the most iconic live shows in the country’s history, especially in the minds of IVYSONs (Nasty C’s core fans). The show marked the Ugandan and East African leg of his Ivyson Tour and delivered emotion and connection from the moment he hit the stage at a quarter past 10 PM, representing for the culture and proving that hip-hop isn’t dead but here for a long time.
Related: Nasty C on his Rebrand, Kampala IVYSON Tour Stop, New Label & Album ‘FREE’
Earlier in the day, MOTIV had served as the perfect backdrop to conversations redefining Uganda’s creative industry at the second edition of the Amplifying Ugandan Music Expo. Panels ranged from topics such as music royalties, brand partnerships, digital distribution, artist development, publishing, influencer marketing, and a live DJ workshop, all aimed at equipping young musicians on how to scale their craft beyond borders.
When the curtains rolled on Episode 2 of AUMEX, the energy went a notch higher with a musical showcase featuring young DJs and emerging artists. Among those who performed before Nasty C were Echoled, Expect Xhavi, Son of Aboda, Vini Mercy, Tungi, and DJs Rocky and City Girl.
You could hear the roar from fans once they were tipped off that Nasty C was in the vicinity, and they began loudly singing his songs word for word, including “Strings and Blings,” “Jungle,” and “King.” Back-to-back hip-hop hits boomed through the speakers as his official DJ took to the stage, creating the perfect mood for his arrival.
Fifteen minutes later, there was a blackout and Nasty C walked onto the stage in his signature laid-back yet commanding swagger, creating the first highlight of the night as fans chanted his name and lit up the hall with their phone lights.
Like what Travis Scott did in Johannesburg at the FNB Stadium as part of his UTOPIA Tour Experience, Nasty C recreated the same intensity, delivering a performance of a lifetime. Fans turned into a choir, roaring lyrics and filling the hall with mad vibes. If you were a big fan of his album Strings and Blings, this was your night to shine as he performed almost the entire project, including “Casanova,” “SMA,” “My Baby,” “Mrs Me,” “Givenchy,” “Gravy,” and the titular track. IVYSONs kept the energy high on “All In,” “Juice Back,” the tribute song to his late mother Veliswa Ivy Ngcobo “UOK,” the ASAP Ferg-assisted “King,” “Hell Naw,” “Leftie (Dlala Ngcobo),” and his famous intro to “Particula,” a song considered one of the African tracks with the hardest intro of all time, before closing with his Runtown-assisted Coke Studio anthem “Said.”
As the audience sang along to every lyric, waving their phones and chanting his name in rhythm, Nasty C displayed mastery as a performer, once again proving why he remains one of Africa’s most exciting and versatile acts. It was chaos in the best way possible. The fact that this was a fan-led show shows how much people in the +256 love Junior, as over 200 fans had requested his performance in Uganda via the TOORLY website, helping unlock Kampala as a tour stop.
The night of November 7 will stay etched in the memories of IVYSONs and music lovers who witnessed the South African export give his all. The energy remained high even after the show, with him engaging fans on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), showing how deep his connection with them runs. Fans are already contemplating a Part II, this time at Lugogo Hockey Grounds, for yet another unforgettable experience.
The IVYSON Tour Kampala was made possible by AUMEX, Talent Africa Group, TOORLY and partners, as I reported here. This was Nasty C’s third time performing in Uganda, having made his debut at the Guvnor SnapOff in 2018, then Best of Kampala in 2023, and now the AUMEX Showcase in 2025.