Shake It Africa Launches to Provide Global Pathways for African Artists

Ugandan-born artist Jon Muq has teamed with music executive Kevin Wommack to launch Shake It Africa, a record label and events company based in Austin, Texas, and Kampala, Uganda.

The mission:

• Shake It Africa seeks to open sustainable international pathways for African artists.

Why it matters:

• Genres such as Afrobeats and Amapiano are gaining global traction, but the infrastructure supporting African artists is still developing.

First steps:

• Shake It Africa will launch a compilation album in February featuring collaborations between artists from Uganda, Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria.

• Its live operations will commence in September with a monthly residency at Pershing Hall in Austin, Texas, featuring African artists and DJs.

• A European showcase in the Netherlands is set for March 2027.

Backstories:

• As an artist, Muq is signed to Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound record label.

• Wommack was the Executive Producer for Los Lonely Boys’ 2.5 million-selling debut album, and has signed artists to Columbia, Elektra, Geffen and more.

• He was President of Ben Kweller’s Noise Company label, and is the Head of Playing In Traffic Records.

What they said:

• Jon Muq: “We’re not just releasing music. We’re creating the kind of opportunities many of us wished existed when we were starting out. I know what it feels like to chase a dream without knowing if there’s room for you.”