ARSENAL MIKEBE (Uganda)
Saturday, 31. October 2026
Amtmandens
Ugandan percussion turned into pure pressure
Genres: Polyrhythmic percussion / Ritual music
Arsenal Mikebe is one of the most explosive and forward-thinking live acts to emerge from Uganda’s globally influential Nyege Nyege scene. The percussion ensemble transforms rhythm into something physical, hypnotic and deeply immersive — creating music that feels equally connected to ancestral ceremony and futuristic club culture.
At the center of their sound is a custom-built steel percussion system inspired by the inner mechanics of the legendary Roland TR-808 drum machine. Played entirely live, the instrument allows the trio to generate massive bass-heavy patterns, metallic textures and layered polyrhythms with astonishing intensity and precision.
Comprised of master percussionists Ssentongo Moses, Dratele Epiphany and Luyambi Vicent de Paul, Arsenal Mikebe pushes traditional drumming practices into entirely new territory. Their performances build through repetition, tension and overwhelming rhythmic force — pulling audiences into states that feel closer to collective trance than conventional concerts.
Following acclaimed appearances at festivals such as Roskilde, Dekmantel, CTM and Boiler Room, the group has established itself as one of the most talked-about experimental acts on the international circuit.
At Tromsø World 2026, Arsenal Mikebe brings pure percussive intensity north, a live experience where rhythm becomes pressure, movement and total physical release.
