MC Grey’s win marks the first time a Karamoja artist has claimed the top music category prize since the inception of the WALK Awards, which celebrate artistic excellence across West Nile, Acholi, Lango and Karamoja.
Kotido, Uganda: Karamoja cultural and music ambassador MC Grey, real name Lokutan Alex, has been crowned Legendary Artist at the 2026 WALK Awards, marking a historic first for a musician from the Karamoja sub-region.
The Kotido-born artist received the honour on January 6 during the awards ceremony held in Gulu, in recognition of his groundbreaking fusion of traditional Karamojong rhythms with contemporary drill music—an approach credited with redefining the region’s cultural narrative on the national stage.
Grey’s win marks the first time a Karamoja artist has claimed the top music category prize since the inception of the WALK Awards, which celebrate artistic excellence across West Nile, Acholi, Lango and Karamoja.
“This trophy belongs to every herder, bead artist and storyteller in Karamoja,” Grey said as he received the award, draped in ceremonial WALK regalia. “We are no longer whispers in Uganda’s wind—we are a roar.”
The recognition reflects growing national attention on Northern and Eastern Uganda’s artistic renaissance, with MC Grey’s music increasingly cited for reshaping perceptions of Karamoja beyond conflict narratives.
His work has also inspired youth participation in music, with several community studios emerging in the region, while cultural promoters credit his sound with positioning Karamoja as a rising creative and tourism destination.
Organisers said discussions are ongoing to host the 2027 WALK Awards in Kotido, a move that would further cement MC Grey’s status as a defining voice of contemporary Karamoja culture.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
