Ugandan singer-songwriter Jon Muq is turning his journey from a one-room home outside Kampala to international stages into a platform aimed at opening doors for other African artistes.
Muq has launched Shake It Africa, a new music label and live entertainment company created to connect African artists with audiences around the world through music, live experiences, artist development and cultural exchange.
The company, developed alongside veteran music executive Kevin Wommack, has made its debut with Muq’s new single, Shake Shake Dance for Me, produced by Grammy-winning producer Derek Dixie, whose credits include Beyoncé, Chloe x Halle and the Carters.
The infectious Afrobeat track is more than a new release. It is the first statement from a company whose ambition is to celebrate African culture while creating meaningful opportunities for artists across the continent.
Shake Shake Dance for Me is a new Afrobeat remake of Muq’s original 2024 recording, produced by Dan Auerbach and released through Easy Eye Sound.
For Muq, however, Shake It Africa goes beyond putting out records.
His own journey exposed him to the challenges many African artists face when trying to build careers beyond their home markets. Rather than create another conventional record label, he envisioned an ecosystem where artists could access mentorship, creative opportunities, international exposure and a supportive community without having to sacrifice their identity.
That vision, developed with Wommack, is now taking shape as a platform targeting audiences and opportunities across Africa, Europe and North America.
“We’re not just releasing music,” Muq, the company’s founder and creative director, says. “We’re creating the kind of opportunities many of us wished existed when we were starting out.”
“I know what it feels like to chase a dream without knowing if there’s room for you. Shake It Africa is about making sure more African artists are seen, heard, and supported while staying true to who they are.”
The company’s first major recording project, Bantu Muntu, is scheduled for release on February 12, 2027.
The 10-track compilation brings together artists from Uganda, Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria, including Muq, Jaywon, Jeff Akoh, Kaesa, Biya, MicPro256 and Njuguna, alongside other collaborators.
The project is designed to bring established and emerging voices together while highlighting the possibilities of cross-border African collaboration.
But Shake It Africa is not stopping in the studio.
Its first live initiative began on September 20, 2026, with a monthly residency at Pershing Hall in Austin, Texas. The residency introduces audiences to African artists, DJs and cultural programming, with the company planning to take the concept to other international markets.
Its first European showcase is scheduled for March 27, 2027, in Utrecht, Netherlands.
Wommack, who serves as CEO and co-founder, says Muq’s personal experience was central to building the company.
“Jon brought a vision rooted in lived experience and a genuine understanding of what many African artists face,” Wommack says. “My role has been helping build the infrastructure, partnerships, and long-term strategy that can turn that vision into something lasting.”
For Muq, the idea has come full circle.
His musical education began far from international stages. Growing up outside Kampala, he first became fascinated by music while listening from a distance to a school brass band. He later sang in his boarding school choir, learned English through songs such as We Are the World and taught himself guitar by watching church musicians.
Music eventually carried him across Africa, Europe and the United States.
Now, with Shake It Africa, Muq hopes his next journey will involve taking more African artists along with him.
With new recordings, international showcases, recurring live events, artist development programmes and collaborative projects already in the pipeline, the company is positioning itself as a bridge between African talent and the wider world.
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