The Navio Moses Matovu collaboration has become one of the most memorable moments in the making of the rapper’s upcoming album, with Navio revealing that he nearly cried during a recording session with the Afrigo Band founder.
Speaking about the experience in a recent interview, the Ugandan rapper, whose real name is Daniel Kigozi Lubwama, described working alongside veteran musician Moses Matovu as the highlight of the project.
When asked to identify the one person who stood out most during the recording process, Navio acknowledged several influential figures in Uganda’s music industry before singling out Matovu as the artist who left the greatest impression on him.
For the rapper, the session was about more than recording music. It was an opportunity to work with someone he has admired for years.
At the centre of the collaboration is Sikulimba, one of Afrigo Band’s best-known classics.
Navio revealed that the veteran musician agreed to contribute to a new version of the song after listening to the track in the studio.
According to the rapper, the song had remained untouched for decades before the collaboration.
“No one has touched ‘Sikulimba’ for about 40 to 46 years. They haven’t allowed anyone to get on it. So when Mr. Matovu came to the studio, he listened to the track, appreciated it, and decided to play on it. It was a live collaboration.”
The recording was not simply a guest appearance. Navio explained that Matovu performed live in the studio, bringing decades of musical experience to the project.
He said the Afrigo Band founder moved effortlessly between multiple instruments during the session.
“For me, being one of his biggest fans, I almost cried in the studio. He played the flute, clarinet, and trumpet, I’ve never seen anyone switch between those instruments the way he did.”
The emotional reaction, Navio admitted, came from witnessing someone he deeply respects at work.
Beyond the recording itself, Navio said he was inspired by Matovu’s longevity in Uganda’s music industry.
The rapper praised the veteran musician for remaining active after 52 years in the industry.
He also pointed to Matovu’s continued energy at the age of 62 as something he greatly admired.
“That’s Afrigo Band, and in particular, it’s Moses Matovu—and it will always be him. Fifty-two years in the industry, and he’s 62 himself. That’s no mean feat.”
Navio said the session extended beyond music. According to him, Matovu had originally planned to spend one hour in the studio.
Instead, he remained for two hours, offering advice and sharing his experience with the team.
The rapper said the interaction left a lasting impression. “Watching him do what he does so effortlessly while staying physically fit made me tell myself I have to hit the gym. He was supposed to be with us for one hour, but he stayed for two, giving us advice. He contributed so much to this new album.”
The collaboration brings together two artists from different generations of Uganda’s music industry.
Navio has built his reputation as one of the country’s leading rap artists.
Matovu, meanwhile, remains one of the defining figures behind Afrigo Band, a group that has influenced Ugandan music for decades.
Their work together on Sikulimba reflects a meeting of contemporary hip-hop and a classic Ugandan sound.
While details of the finished project remain under wraps, Navio’s comments suggest the recording was one of the defining moments of his forthcoming album.
Although Navio has spoken openly about recording with Moses Matovu, several details about the project have not yet been announced.
The title of the upcoming album has not been revealed. Its release date also remains unknown.
It has not been confirmed whether the new version of Sikulimba will be released as a standalone single before the album.
There has also been no announcement on whether other members of Afrigo Band appear on the recording or whether additional guest artists will feature on the project.
The Navio Moses Matovu collaboration is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about moments surrounding the rapper’s upcoming album, not only because it revisits the classic Sikulimba, but because of the mutual respect between two generations of Ugandan musicians.
For Navio, the recording session became an emotional experience that celebrated Moses Matovu’s enduring legacy, musical talent and mentorship, while giving fans an early glimpse into a project that is already generating interest ahead of its official release.
