Jon Muq launches Shake It Africa

Ugandan singer-songwriter Jon Muq has launched Shake It Africa, a new record label and live entertainment company aimed at connecting African artists with global audiences through music, live performances, artist development and cultural exchange.

The company launched with the release of “Shake Shake Dance for Me", a new single by Muq produced by Grammy-winning producer Derek Dixie, whose credits include Beyoncé, Chloe x Halle and The Carters.

Blending infectious Afrobeat rhythms with Muq’s soulful songwriting, the song is both Shake It Africa’s inaugural release and a statement of its mission to celebrate African culture while creating opportunities for artists across the continent.

“Shake Shake Dance for Me” is an Afrobeat remake of Muq’s original 2024 recording, produced by Dan Auerbach and released through Easy Eye Sound.

Muq developed Shake It Africa with veteran music executive Kevin Wommack, whose industry experience helped turn the singer’s vision into a platform targeting audiences and opportunities across Africa, Europe and North America.

For Muq, the venture is personal. Rather than establish another record label, he envisioned an ecosystem where African artists can access mentorship, creative opportunities, international exposure and a supportive community without losing their cultural identity.

“We’re not just releasing music,” said Muq, founder and creative director of Shake It Africa. “We’re creating the kind of opportunities many of us wished existed when we were starting out.”

“I know what it feels like to chase a dream without knowing if there’s room for you. Shake It Africa is about making sure more African artists are seen, heard and supported while staying true to who they are,” he added.

The company’s first major recording project, Bantu Muntu, is scheduled for release on February 12, 2027. The 10-track compilation will feature artists from Uganda, Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria, including Muq, Jaywon, Jeff Akoh, Kaesa, Biya, MicPro256 and Njuguna, alongside other collaborators.

The project is intended to showcase both established and emerging artists while promoting cross-border collaboration and global discovery.

Muq’s own journey inspired the initiative. Born in a one-room home outside Kampala, he did not initially envisage a career in music. His musical education began with listening to a school brass band from a distance, singing in his boarding-school choir, learning English through songs such as “We Are the World”, and teaching himself guitar by watching church musicians.

His career eventually took him from Uganda to stages across Africa, Europe and the United States. Along the way, he says he became increasingly aware of the limited pathways available to young African artists seeking sustainable international careers. Shake It Africa is his response to that gap.

Beyond recorded music, the company’s first live initiative begins on September 20, 2026, with a monthly residency at Pershing Hall in Austin, Texas, featuring African artists, DJs and cultural programming.

The initiative will expand to Europe with Shake It Africa’s first European showcase in Utrecht, Netherlands, on March 27, 2027.

Wommack, the company’s CEO and co-founder, said Muq’s personal experience was central to the venture.

“Jon brought a vision rooted in lived experience and a genuine understanding of what many African artists face,” Wommack said.

“My role has been helping build the infrastructure, partnerships and long-term strategy that can turn that vision into something lasting. Together, we’re creating opportunities that extend well beyond music,” he added.

With new releases, recurring live events, international showcases, artist-development programmes and collaborative recording projects already in the pipeline, Shake It Africa aims to build a long-term platform for African talent while exposing global audiences to the continent’s diverse musical and cultural heritage.