What started as an idea to keep themselves busy during the Covid-19 lockdown has grown into a popular entertainment brand, with Ugandan comedy group Shalomaya building a following of more than one million people across East Africa.
Operating mainly through the TikTok handle @Shalomaya and the Shalomaya YouTube channel, the group has carved out a niche with comedy skits, music, dance and lifestyle content centred on everyday Ugandan life.
The group says its content is aimed at entertaining audiences while promoting Uganda’s culture and showcasing the country to audiences beyond its borders.
Shalomaya became particularly popular for its short comedy skits, many of which draw from familiar Ugandan experiences, relationships and social life.
Among its best-known productions is the “Shalomaya vs Ghetto Maama” series, which has helped the group attract a wider audience on social media.
The group has also collaborated with other Ugandan entertainers, including comedian Taata Kimbo, as it seeks to expand its presence in the local comedy scene.
But comedy is only part of the Shalomaya story.
The group has in recent years ventured into music, releasing songs and dance tracks that have gained traction on social media in Uganda and Kenya.
One of its notable releases is “Ekitanda Kya Maama Kilimu Ebikku”, which the group says became a hit in Uganda and attracted attention in countries outside Africa, including Spain.
Other songs released by the group include “Ekkalaamu” and its latest release, “Kampala Nga Enyize Nze”.
The group’s music videos and other productions are available on its YouTube channel, while TikTok remains its main platform for short comedy clips, dance videos and trending challenges.
Beyond entertainment, Shalomaya has also sought to incorporate Ugandan cultural themes into its content. Its productions have featured cultural highlights from different parts of the country, including Busoga, helping the group appeal to audiences interested in Uganda’s diverse traditions.
Inspired by lockdown
For the members of Shalomaya, the journey into entertainment was largely shaped by the Covid-19 lockdown.
With movement restricted and many people confined to their homes, the group says it found inspiration from young Ugandan entertainers Ssebo and Queen Celine, who were working under Jaaja Jassiper Management at the time.
The group began producing comedy skits as a way of keeping themselves occupied during the lockdown.
What began as an experiment gradually developed into a structured entertainment platform and, eventually, a growing online community known as Team Shalomaya.
The group says its success has been driven by content that audiences can easily relate to, particularly its portrayal of everyday Ugandan life.
Today, Shalomaya is positioning itself beyond comedy, combining digital entertainment with music and cultural storytelling.
With its growing following across East Africa, the group says it intends to continue producing content through its TikTok and YouTube platforms while using entertainment to promote Ugandan culture.
For a team that began creating comedy during a period when much of the country was shut down, Shalomaya’s journey reflects the growing influence of social media in creating new opportunities for Uganda’s young entertainers.
