Ykee Benda

Ugandan singer, songwriter, and producer Ykee Benda (born Tugume Wycliffe) emerged in 2015 with a versatile style that incorporates elements of dancehall, Afrobeat, R&B, pop, rap, and reggae. He found mainstream success in 2017 with the infectious single "Superman," which appeared on his full-length debut Kireka Boy, and later turned heads with his chart-topping remix of Sheebah Karungi's "Farmer." Born the seventh child of eight in the Kampala suburb of Kireka, Benda developed his musical skills in the church choir and parlayed that experience into a career after studying chemical engineering in Algeria. His first taste of success came in 2015 after releasing his debut single "Muna Kampala." A string of hits followed, including "Malaika," "Kyenkyebula," "Superman," and the remix of "Farmer." His 2017 debut long-player Kireka Boy pushed him to the fore of the Ugandan music scene, as did 2020's Bomboklat, a hip-hop and rap project featuring a slew of regional artists like Feffe Bussi, Big Tril, and Mun G. ~ James Christopher Monger