May 2017

Last week, we were happy to have an inspiring speech by Ugandan photographer Kibuuka Mukisa Oscar, who can be rightfully described as a self-made artist. He got interested in photography through Breakdance Project Uganda, where he was first introduced to a camera and started taking pictures of people breakdancing. The project turned out to be a great starting point for him to master the art of photography. He initiated his career as a photographer slowly. He did not have money to buy a camera and neither did his parents. Kibuuka, therefore, borrowed equipment from friends for gigs. Although he was faced with mistrust, in the beginning, he proved to be reliable and managed to gain a lot of experience. After a while, he was able to buy his first camera through a micro credit.

Today, Kibuuka has exhibited his work both locally and internationally, won several awards and been published in the Washington Post, the German Tageszeitung, and many others. However, Kibuuka still sticks to his roots and remains a vital part of the Ugandan Breakdance community. He is one of the founders of the Break-Fast Jam, East Africa’s biggest breakdance event, featuring dancers from Uganda, Kenya, Congo, Tanzania and Rwanda and beyond.

Kibuuka strongly believes in the power of hiphop to empower Kampala’s youth to become responsible citizens. He is happy to help provide a competitive and cooperative platform to break down societal barriers, be it on a social, economic or tribal level. The successful photographer, who is a role model to many, emphasizes that youth must not necessarily follow his exact career path to creatively harness their limited resources and make a living: “If you are passionate about something and surround yourself with the right people, things will fall into place. The more effort you put in, the more you get out of it.”