Apocalyptic baile funk, hip-hop-infused singles, electronic music drawing on rituals, and noise rap mixed with West African folk. The Ugandan label Nyege Nyege has been operating in Kampala since 2013 and has since earned a reputation as one of the most significant African music collectives of today, with a global reach into experimental electronic music. On September 10, a quartet of artists from Nyege Nyege—DJ Anderson do Paraíso, Jay Mitta, Judgitzu, and Pö—will perform for Czech audiences at Ankali and Planeta Za in Prague. The event is part of the Heartnoize series.

DJ Anderson do Paraíso first caught the public’s attention two years ago with his album *Querid​ã​o*, a record full of slow beats, twisted baile funk, and moments of silence that sometimes speak louder than the music itself. He has been gradually finding his way toward tracks full of tension and uneasy anticipation since 2012, when he began producing music inspired by Rio de Janeiro funk. In the Brazilian city of Belo de Sera, he began attending local street parties that combined baile funk with hip-hop and MCs rapping about violence, crime, and the hope for better times. Anderson do Paraíso transformed the energy of these local gatherings into contemporary electronic music and an atmosphere that is both captivating and bleak.

Musician and ethnomusicologist Julien Hairon has spent the last decade collecting field recordings across Africa, Asia, and Oceania. He then channeled his broad knowledge into the Judgitzu project, which was preceded by a two-year stay in Tanzania. On the album *Sator Alepo*, Judgitzu draws primarily from the local genre of singeli, music and dance that range between 200 and 300 bpm. Against the backdrop of contemporary Tanzanian dance music, he seeks to reconnect with his own Celtic roots and find a bridge between spiritual messages and the club dance floor.

Singeli and hip hop are also the cornerstones of the sets by producer Jay Mitta, one of the key members of Sisso Studios in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, who has helped bring singeli beyond the borders of his home country. Jay Mitta made his debut in 2019 on Nyege Nyege Tapes with the album *Tatizo Pesa*, which established the frenetic sound and energy of Tanzanian dance music on a global scale. The pioneering producer is set to release a new album this June.

PÖ’s work spans rap, noise, industrial beats, and West African folk. In live performances—whose energy oscillates between Björk and Pussy Riot—PÖ creates intense physical experiences that transcend the traditional boundaries of a concert. During her performances, she combines vocals, electronics, rap, and dance, forging an almost ritualistic connection with the audience. The immersive nature of her performances and her intimate closeness with the audience accompany her musical rituals, which include both a journey into hell and catharsis.