UGANDA (CelebrityAccess) – Universal Music Group Nigeria (UMGNG) has signed Ugandan singer-songwriter Irene Ntalé.
With over 10 million streams and downloads to her credit, Ntalé, who is known for her fusion of RnB, Afropop, reggae and acoustic soul, is one of the leading female artists on the continent. She is also the first artist from Uganda to sign to Universal Music Group.
Ntalé released her first single, “Nyamba,” through Universal Music Group Nigeria on Wednesday (Aug. 21), which follows the release of her hit singles such as “Kyolowooza,” “Stamina Daddy,” and “Gukuba.”
Of the deal, Ntalé said: “Being signed to Universal Music Group, Nigeria is the beginning of a new journey as we plan to take over the world.”
General Manager of Universal Music Group Nigeria, Ezegozie Eze, added: “We are excited to have Ntalé join the family. She is an extremely talented artist and her dedication to her craft has paid off in East Africa. This partnership has been two years in the making and we are excited to be on this journey with her, as she sets her eyes on Africa and then the world.”
UMG expanded its presence in Western Africa in July last year with the launch of its new office in Lagos under the Universal Music Group Nigeria banner. UMG has since become the first major music company to license its catalog to Boomplay, the streaming and download service which covers multiple markets in Africa, as well as the first major to ink a licensing agreement with Nigeria-based music streaming service uduX.
UMG also recently signed an exclusive global recording agreement with Nigerian singer-songwriter Tiwa Savage, one of Africa’s biggest stars.
