Kampala, Uganda | NOW THEN DIGITAL — Swedish audio streaming platform Spotify has named Ugandan artist Nakiyingi Veronica Luggya, known as Vinka, as its EQUAL Africa ambassador for October. EQUAL Africa is an initiative that aims to reduce gender inequality in the music industry by amplifying the voices of female artists from across the continent. Vinka joins a group of outstanding artists such as Makhadzi (South Africa), Maandy, and Xenia Manasseh (Kenya) in this program.
Vinka’s journey into music began with exposure to artists like Awilo Longomba and Koffi Olomide during her upbringing. Initially, she pursued a career in dance and artist management before transitioning to become a musician. Vinka shared, “When I started working as an artist manager at the record company, I fell in love with music and took it up when the opportunity arose.”
Switching from managing technical aspects to being in the spotlight marked the beginning of Vinka’s successful music career, featuring well-received songs like ‘Malaika’ and ‘Thank God.’ In 2019, she demonstrated her dedication to the craft through a campaign, releasing a new single every first Friday of the month throughout the year.
Vinka refuses to be confined to a specific genre and embraces dancehall and various African sounds in her music. Describing her style as catchy with a unique voice, tone, and vibe, Vinka stands as a testament to Uganda’s lively and thriving music industry. Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s head of music for sub-Saharan Africa, praised Vinka, stating, ”she is a prime example of a female artist on the continent disrupting the music industry with her unorthodox and innovative music marketing techniques.”
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Offering advice to aspiring young artists, Vinka emphasized the importance of self-belief, focus, perseverance, and dedication in their journeys. She encouraged them to invest their time and effort to achieve their goals.
Thank you @SpotifyAfrica for choosing me as the EQUAL ambassador for October 2023 🫶🏽
Y’all don’t stop streaming my music 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻 pic.twitter.com/1EINED8VpQ
— IamVinka (@IamVinka) October 11, 2023
