“By reverse engineering Roland’s iconic TR-808 beatbox, they devised a steel-cast ‘percussion machine’ that allows Arsenal Mikebe to seamlessly integrate bass-heavy electronic sounds into their frenetic performances.” XLR8R

“The Ugandan percussion trio of Arsenal Mikebe caught the night’s peak crowd, inflaming all with their sharp combination of sonic intensity and rhythmic complexity.” ​Tallinn Music Week

“Pure Ugandan polyrhythmic thunder to possess the spirit, no less!” Boomkat

Arsenal Mikebe is a boundary-pushing Ugandan percussion ensemble and proud member of the Nyege Nyege collective, based on the outskirts of Kampala. Comprised of master drummers Ssentongo Moses, Dratele Epiphany, and Luyambi Vicent de Paul, the group transforms traditional rhythm practices into raw, hypnotic soundscapes that echo the power and precision of electronic music — while remaining entirely acoustic.

At the heart of their sonic identity is a custom-built steel percussion system, conceived by Ugandan sculptor Henry Segamwenge and inspired by the inner workings of the Roland TR-808. Played with intense physicality, the instrument becomes a living drum machine — a kinetic sculpture channeling waves of polyrhythmic force and metallic resonance.

Their debut album, Drum Machine (Nyege Nyege Tapes, 2024), was produced by visionary Portuguese artist Jonathan Uliel Saldanha. The record is a ritualistic plunge into dissonant chants, deep rhythmic trance, and industrial textures, with tracks like “Omuzimu” and “Boiler Omukka” capturing a powerful tension between ancestral ceremony and futuristic propulsion.

After standout performances at showcase festivals like CTM, Nyege Nyege, BRDCST, Boiler Room Festival and Tallinn Music Week, Arsenal Mikebe are now set to embark on a major European tour, bringing their intense, trance-inducing live ritual to a wider international audience.

Whether shaking the walls of a smokey club or commanding a massive festival stage, Arsenal Mikebe’s sets are not just performances — they are rhythmic ceremonies that dissolve boundaries between the organic and the electronic, leading dancers into a collective trance.