In an emotional rollercoaster of an interview aired on Kin Gang TV, Uganda’s Northern music sensation, Okeng Born Town, shook hearts and made headlines with one bold declaration:
“I will never leave Gulu City!”
Yes, you heard it right. While some artists dream of skyscrapers and champagne skies in Kampala or even faraway Lagos, Okeng is proudly planting his musical flag right where his heart beats the loudest—Gulu, the city of rhythm, resilience, and raw talent.
Born and raised in the lyrical lands of the Lango sub-region, Okeng Born Town is no stranger to turning local stories into bangers that resonate from boda stages in Lira to dancefloors in Arua. With tracks like “Anyaka Na Ileng Over”, “Cam Kuci”, and “Yege Yege”, his name has become a household chant in Northern Uganda.
But unlike the usual rise-to-fame-and-migrate-to-Kampala formula, Okeng has rewritten the script. He’s the living, grooving proof that greatness can grow and glow right from the land of Acholi and Lango.
In the Kin Gang TV interview, dressed in his signature flashy shades and unapologetic swag, Okeng opened up like never before. He spoke of Gulu not as just a place on the map, but a breathing inspiration, a source of rhythm, and a cradle of memories.
“Gulu raised me. Gulu fed my lyrics. Gulu gave me my first mic, my first audience, my first cheer. How can I leave that behind? Gulu is my heartbeat,” Okeng said, with fire in his eyes and rhythm in his voice.
That emotional punch landed hard with fans. Social media exploded with love from all corners of the north, with hashtags like #OkengStaysGulu and #GuluOurCapitalOfVibes trending on Northern Uganda Twitter.
From performing in muddy football fields to sold-out shows in Masindi and Apac, he’s hustled with grace, pushing Northern music into national conversations. He’s helped younger artists rise, mentored them backstage, and even clapped the loudest for competitors when he was snubbed at the 2019 Northern Uganda Music Awards.
He could’ve grumbled. He could’ve ghosted. But instead, he went back to the studio, dropped another Lango anthem, and proved once again that his sound doesn’t need a trophy—it is the trophy.
While many artists chase the shiny lights of the capital city, Okeng has doubled down on staying true to his roots. In fact, he compared Gulu to a studio where every street gives him lyrics and every night sky brings a melody.
“Leaving Gulu is like unplugging my mic mid-performance,” he quipped on Kin Gang TV, leaving the interviewer laughing.
As Uganda’s music map continues to expand, one thing is clear—Okeng Born Town is not just a singer. He’s a storyteller, a culture carrier, comedian , movie actor and a regional icon who refuses to trade roots for glitz.
So while others may head south, Okeng will be here—mic in hand, beat in heart, and Gulu in soul.
Because when you’re made in Gulu, by Gulu, for Gulu… leaving is never an option. It’s a love song that never ends.
Stay tuned to Musicwaa for more updates..
