The landlord came to Kampala and Zonke Africa threw the housewarming – Sqoop

There is something happening in Kampala that deserves more attention. Quietly, without the noise of mainstream nightlife, the city has been falling in love with house music. Not the “DJ, increase volume!” kind. The grown-up kind. The kind where people close their eyes, raise one hand in the air, and somehow know exactly when the log drum is about to drop. This weekend Plot 1420 became church. Zonke Africa brought De Mthuda yes, the Landlord of Amapiano to Kampala, and for one golden evening the city felt like Johannesburg had temporarily rented space in Bugolobi. 

But De Mthuda was only the headline; Zonke Africa was the real story. For the last few years, Kampala’s house scene has been growing in plain sight, evolving from a niche community of selectors and music nerds into one of the city’s most exciting cultural movements. Afro-house, Amapiano, afro-tech and 3-step have found a loyal audience, and suddenly people know the difference between deep house and Amapiano growth, if you ask me. Zonke has been one of the biggest architects of that shift, creating experiences instead of ordinary parties, documenting mixes, releasing original music, and consistently giving Ugandan DJs a stage before flying in continental heavyweights.

The afternoon belonged to Uganda’s selectors. Kalibwani eased people into the mood, Chapat reminded everyone why he’s one of the country’s finest tastemakers, and 2Nyuke kept the groove steady before Mwami Kiyimba layered on his signature sound. Later, Deejay Bryan, Jenkins and Kamali lifted the energy even higher, proving this wasn’t a lineup of opening acts waiting for an international star. It felt like Ugandan house DJs were welcoming a guest into a house they had spent years building. By the time De Mthuda stepped behind the decks, the crowd was already exactly where it needed to be.

Then the Landlord collected the keys. Born Mthuthuzeli Gift Khoza in Vosloorus, South Africa, De Mthuda helped shape the soulful side of amapiano through projects like Ace of Spades and The Landlord, earning a reputation that stretches across the continent. As John Wick, Emlanjeni, Ebumnandini and other favourites rolled through Plot 1420, Kampala became one giant synchronized dance floor. Nobody needed instructions, nobody waited for the chorus, and nobody pretended to know the songs. The crowd knew every drop, every log drum, and every moment the bass was about to hit.

That is what made the night feel bigger than a party. A few years ago, bringing De Mthuda to Kampala would have felt ambitious. Today it feels inevitable because Uganda’s house scene has grown into its own. The audience exists, the DJs are world-class, and collectives like Zonke Africa continue doing the quiet work of building culture through consistency rather than hype.