Swagina

Muliika Marvin grew up around Kampala's music industry long before he became part of it — as a stylist, dressing "big Ugandan musicians" for shows and appearances. He says the pull toward performing built slowly, over repeated nights standing side-stage: "whenever I could get a chance to go to shows and performances with my friends, big artists, the fans always would think that am the main artist." About seven years ago, by his own account, he stopped dressing other people's careers and started building his own, taking the name Swagina.

Swagina describes his sound in three words — "Afro amapiano dancehall" — and names Vybz Kartel, Wizkid, and Lil Wayne as his reference points across dancehall, Afrobeats, and hip-hop. He works as both artist and producer, usually starting with the instrumental: "I start with the beat and if I connect spiritually with that frequency then I just find myself freestyling and then write down," he says — and the clock doesn't matter. His themes range wider than most of his peers on the roster: love and social commentary, but also anxiety, sadness, comedy, and depression, all sitting inside upbeat production.

His catalogue centers on two releases, in his own words: the 11-track album "Stepping Out and Loud" and the 4-track EP "It's Time Swagi." He's worked with producers Jenva, Ill Gee, Teejay Beats, and Nach Mao, and with fellow RIA-circle artist Tou-L — a collaboration that paid off with the released single "Tell Me" (August 2025). That turned out to be the start of a real run rather than a one-off: "Silubaala," "Munte," "Top Shatter," "Gunshots," and "Woooweee" followed through the back half of 2025, with "Gunshot Riddim" (December 2025, UMVA INC) and "Bad Gyal" (January 2026, Starwars) his most recent releases on record. He's performed live around Kampala, including at Kampala Forest in Muyenga and Five Horsemen in Nsambya.

Swagina says his proudest wins so far are simple ones — recognition, and getting his message out. The collaborations he once flagged as upcoming — "Owee" (with Vudu Child) and "Silubaala" — are both out now, part of that same Starwars run. A fresh search also turned up "Maanyi" (featuring Ill Gee and Tana Downtown), a 2026 single not yet reflected in RIA's own release catalog — a sign he's kept releasing beyond what's tracked there. His mantra doubles as his catchphrase: "It's time, Swagi" — the same line that gave his EP its title, and the one he wants people repeating back to him.