Wiz Kaka, known to many as the African Elephant, is taking the East African music scene to a party storm with his latest hit video, Party, outpacing many artists of his caliber. Born Kakaire Deric on November 23, 1996, in Kireka, Uganda, the talented singer, songwriter, and performing artist recently welcomed us to his home studio for an exclusive interview, where he discussed the waves he’s making with his new releases.
The rising star popped the bottle-top to his music career in 2018 with tracks such as Come Near, Original, and Kankumemu all of which ooze joy, vibe, and vibrance. Known for fusing Afro-dancehall and contemporary styles, Wiz Kaka has engaged fans and critics alike, determined to leave an indelible mark. His rapid-fire releases are igniting a wildfire of excitement across East Africa and beyond.
While his hit single Party was and is still doing colorfully well all over, he iced it up with a recent double release Teri Kuniza, and Neera. Both tracks are nothing but electrifying!
In a recent interview with Nymy Net, Wiz Kaka opened up that his powerful energy and enthusiasm are owed to the creative fuel of Nigerian music icon Wiz Kid and the US. R&B sensation Chris Brown, which partly explains the infectious beats, catchy melodies, and hyper lyrics embedded in his songs.
Another key to his success is resilience and consistency. Wiz Kaka’s studio environment exudes professionalism and a business-minded focus on sustainability, where he crafts songs with the precision of a master artisan. With an impressive work ethic, he records at least one song daily, and this tireless dedication is producing a treasure trove of hits, each one a testament to his hard work and creative skill.
One might misinterpret his rapid recording pace for rushed releases, but like a fine wine that takes time to age, Wiz Kaka meticulously guides each track through a refined creative process—professional mixing, mastering, market analysis, and strategic pitching, particularly on Spotify. For instance, Teri Kuniza, released this year, was originally written in 2017, long before the COVID-19 lockdown—a remarkable seven-year production journey!
Teri Kuniza and Neera, a bold double release defying convention, has been performing exceptionally well on streaming platforms and FM airwaves, even without the support of accompanying music videos.
On Spotify, both Teri Kuniza and Neera have surpassed 10,000 streams, with nearly 100,000 streams on Boomplay, a streaming platform popular in Africa. On Boomplay, the songs have not only made it to the Trending Top 100 Uganda playlist but have also been featured in renowned global playlists. Wiz Kaka’s viral TikTok challenges are trending across the region, allowing him to further expanding his audience. Unlike many artists, he creates his own challenges, adding a unique touch. His YouTube music videos are also gaining significant traction and are on track to dominate the Top 100 rankings in the region.
As if that is not enough, his music is in rotation on major media outlets across Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and South Sudan, including Trace Mziki, ETV, Citizen TV, Galaxy TV/FM, NBS, EFM, Wasafi TV/FM, NBS TV, NTV, Bukedde TV/FM, Crown TV/FM and Pearl Magic.
At this level, Wiz Kaka’s meteoric rise is positioning him for nominations at prestigious regional music awards and potential record label deals—accomplishments that will further solidify his status as a trailblazer in the East African music scene. The 27-year-old, who also runs an automotive business in Downtown Kampala, shares that he is ready to collaborate with top East African artists in 2025. He also plans to explore music genres from other cultures, further cementing his position in the global music industry.
As Wiz Kaka’s international fanbase continues to grow, he’s primed to break into the global market. “I am working with some of the continent’s most admired artists, thanks to my management team. I have unreleased songs with popular names I once only dreamed of collaborating with. We recorded some of these tracks in July, and we plan to release them next year,” says Wiz Kaka. When we asked whether these artists were Fave, Rema, or Joeboy, the artist simply smiled—uhmm, leaving us intrigued and eagerly awaiting the reveal.
