The Basement at Goethe-Zentrum Bukoto burst into life last Friday as it hosted the inaugural edition of Duffled Dungeon, a gathering of multidisciplinary artists, culture shapers, fashion houses, skaters, and musicians. Under the headline theme, “Celebrating African Pop-culture And Lifestyle,” the event successfully bridged the worlds of contemporary urban art and creative entrepreneurship.

The event kicked off at midday with a high-level panel discussion moderated by Rachel Akidi (Miss Tourism 2025). Centered around the theme ‘Monetizing Creativity: Scaling Talent While Maintaining a Consistent Brand,’ the conversation offered practical insights into how modern African creators can build sustainable incomes without sacrificing their artistic integrity.

The diverse panel featured prominent industry voices, including:

• Cynthia Kemigisha, founder of Climate Skaters
• Demo Riley, CEO of Vumbula Uganda
• Tonyii Apondi, representing GirlSkate Nairobi among other partners

Simultaneous to the discussions, the background showcase had a high-energy hub of street culture. Attendees explored a pop-up market showcasing cutting-edge textiles from local brands like Pitch Black, Elixir and Faces of Africa. Meanwhile, an art gallery exhibition curated by Haus of Alkebulan and Duffled Magazine ran alongside a live, high-octane skateboard workshop and demonstration.

As day turned to night, the intellectual atmosphere shifted into pure entertainment. The crowd was re-energized by live musical sets from Dante Seth and Cipher 360 Degrees. The night culminated in an explosive Rap Cypher featuring hot heavyweights Jeliko, DJ El Leo, DJ Richie Ndagije, JMoney, ItzDanny, and Vudu Child, before the DJs took over the turntables to close out the night.

True to the core vision of its organizer, Duffled Magazine, the event was true to the power of community workshops and cyphers in preserving and celebrating contemporary urban culture.

The Momentum Continues: GirlSkate Nairobi Regional Itinerary

The energy from Duffled Dungeon is spilling over into the weekend through an exclusive regional exchange. GirlSkate Nairobi, a community organization dedicated to youth empowerment through skate culture, is extending its footprint in Kampala alongside local partners.

“Girlskate is based in Nairobi. We teach the youths skating skills and the skate culture as a way to heal society and proactively create healthy communities in the future,” explained Jelimo Cheboi, co-founder of GirlSkate. “Skating also fosters connections due to interactions based on shared passions and interests.”

Weekend Event Schedule:

• Saturday, September 12th (Day): A collaborative skate workshop alongside Climate Skaters Kampala at the Climate Skaters Park in Kiteezi.
• Saturday, September 12th (Evening): The “Skate And Sound Collective” musical showcase featuring Goddess and Mama Aminah at the Ethiopian Village in Kabalagala.
• Sunday, September 13th: A cross-border Meet and Greet bringing together skaters from Kenya and Uganda at Crested Towers, Kampala. The finale will feature live DJ sets, screen printing, and live skateboard customization workshops.