KARAKTA Africa is returning to Kampala for its second edition, with REBIRTH set to take place on Friday, November 27, 2026, at Xenson Art Space in Kamwokya.
Held under the theme “Celebrating the African Character,” the event will bring together fashion, film makeup, costume, hair, performance, cinema and visual storytelling in an immersive showcase of African creativity and identity.
REBIRTH follows KARAKTA Africa’s debut in early 2025 at Kampala Serena Hotel, where designers, artists, models, filmmakers and audiences came together for the platform’s inaugural showcase.
Although heavy rain disrupted parts of that first event, it established the foundation for what KARAKTA Africa hopes to build as a platform for creative expression.
The second edition is being presented as both a return and a new beginning.
At Xenson Art Space, the organisers plan to transform the venue into a cultural and cinematic environment where African character can be explored through clothing, makeup, movement, materials, food, sound, performance and space.
The creative direction draws from Ugandan and broader African cultural expression, incorporating materials and visual references including barkcloth, matooke leaves, woven baskets and calabashes.
These traditional elements will be combined with theatrical lighting, sound, installations, fashion and performance to create an experience that connects cultural heritage with contemporary creativity.
At the centre of the evening will be a cinematic runway and performance experience exploring the different ways African character can be created, worn, performed and imagined.
Esthrt Nakaziba, founder of KARAKTA Africa, says the REBIRTH concept is about looking back at cultural identity while also considering its future.
“REBIRTH is about returning to who we are, but also asking what we can become,” Nakaziba said.
She added that the platform wants African culture to be “lived, interpreted and transformed through the imagination of contemporary African creatives.”
Beyond the main showcase, KARAKTA Africa aims to create opportunities for learning, collaboration and professional visibility across Uganda’s creative industries.
The platform specifically highlights creative disciplines that often operate behind the scenes but play important roles in film, television, fashion, theatre, advertising and cultural production.
Through workshops, conversations, exhibitions and public showcases, KARAKTA Africa seeks to connect creative skills with opportunities while encouraging younger creatives to view African culture as a living source of ideas.
KARAKTA Africa: REBIRTH takes place on Friday, November 27, 2026, at Xenson Art Space, Kamwokya, Kampala, under the theme “Celebrating the African Character.”