SHARJAH – The globally acclaimed Masaka Kids Africana group of Ugandan children aged 2 and above who boast a following of 3.45 million subscribers on YouTube, 7.8 million followers on Instagram, and 5.5 million followers on TikTok, are bringing their soulful tunes and dance moves to inspire audiences of all age groups at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2023).
The 14th edition of the annual festival will stage multiple performances led by the young Ugandan artists from May 3-7 during the 12-day festival which runs in Expo Centre Sharjah from May 3-14 under the theme ‘Train your Brain’.
This young artistic ensemble is one of the 900+ offerings that defines SCRF’s packed and diverse programming agenda for this edition, which has been carefully designed by the organisers, Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), to showcase the cultural diversity that exists in the world, enabling visitors and families to learn more about different cultures, celebrate the talents of young people from around the world and promote the power of books and reading for all.
The multi-talented kids of Masaka Kids Africana who live the motto ‘Dance, Rise & Shine’ have a heartwarming story to tell, that is a touching example of how crisis can be turned into opportunity with grit, determination and creativity.
Hailing from Masaka, a district in central Uganda, the visiting members of Masaka Kids Africana are a group of 30+ dancers, many of whom have lost one or both parents through the devastation of war, famine or disease. Founded in 2014 by Kavuma Dauda, a visionary local teacher from Masaka, the non-profit used dance and song as a medium of expression for these children, enabling them to connect to each other and the world, see their own potential, and have hope for their future.
Masaka Kids have performed on many international stages including at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the World Bank in Washington D.C., and the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia. They have also won several awards for their electric performances, including the 2021 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award for Favorite African Social Star.
Find the right book to ‘Train your Brain’ with literary giants from the globe
