- . September 14, 2026
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Matthew Nyanzi David, professionally known as Matt Travers, is finding beauty in the contradictions of growing up in East Africa and turning those experiences into music.
The Ugandan artist and producer has built a reputation within the country’s alternative music scene, moving between the roles of artist and producer while developing a sound that feels personal and distinctly East African.
His latest project, the five-track EP “Third World Baby,” arrived on September 4, 2026, following his sophomore EP, “MOZO,” which came out in April 2025.
From MOZO to Something Bigger
Before “Third World Baby,” Travers introduced listeners to “MOZO,” a five-track project featuring collaborations with Kevin Mawejje and Rwanda’s thedicekid.
The title carries a personal history. “Mozo” was an early nickname Travers picked up in high school, with the name also carrying an association with the idea of a servant.
That background gives “MOZO” a sense of personal identity, while “Third World Baby” feels like a broader statement about where Travers comes from and where he wants to go.
Third World Baby
“Third World Baby” embraces the contradictions that come with being a young African artist navigating ambition, identity and relationships.
The project contains five tracks: “MILELE,” “HELENA,” “PROUD OF U,” “Simmer Down (John Blaq Remix),” and “EAST SIDE.”
Kevin Mawejje joins Travers on “PROUD OF U,” while John Blaq appears on the remix of “Simmer Down.”
The project also draws on production contributions from Amanya, Musss and Travers himself, giving the EP a collaborative character while keeping Travers at its centre.
East African Without Having to Announce It
“Third World Baby” sits naturally within an East African context, with Travers allowing the music to carry that identity rather than constantly explaining it.
His work draws from the region’s languages and cultural references, creating a project that feels connected to East Africa without turning that connection into a slogan.
That approach reflects the wider direction of Travers’ career. He continues to move between different creative spaces, refusing to place himself neatly inside one genre or role.
Building the Village
Travers’ work has also extended beyond his solo releases.
He appeared on “The Village Meeting, Vol. 1,” a six-track collaborative project released in November 2025. The project included “Dance,” featuring Matt Travers, That Malcolm Guy and Shari Brown.
The collaboration adds to Travers’ growing body of work with other artists and gives him another space to explore his sound beyond his solo projects.
For an artist who works both behind and in front of the microphone, those collaborations also allow him to shape music from different perspectives.
The Producer Who Refuses to Hide Behind the Board
Travers’ producer identity remains an important part of his story. He has contributed to his own projects while also working with other artists, giving him a different perspective on songwriting and music-making.
That dual role allows him to understand both sides of the process, from building a song behind the production desk to putting his own voice at the centre of it.
His recognition at the Uganda Hip Hop Awards has also helped establish him as one of the emerging names worth watching. In 2023, he earned a nomination for Rookie of the Year.
Now, “Third World Baby” suggests an artist moving beyond the rookie conversation and becoming more confident in the world he is creating.
A Third World Baby With First-World Ambition
The title “Third World Baby” captures a contradiction at the heart of Travers’ creative identity. It acknowledges where he comes from while refusing to limit where he can go.
For Travers, that tension becomes part of the music. The project carries the weight of its roots while looking toward something bigger.
A person can carry the reality of their beginnings and still dream beyond them. That may be the most compelling thing about “Third World Baby.”
It does not sound like an artist trying to escape his roots. It sounds like an artist learning how to turn those roots into something bigger.
This is where I came from. Now watch where I go.
