Where were you on Sunday 27th March and can you remember exactly what you were doing? Did the day just come and go like any other or is it tattooed indelibly into your mind? I remember the day very clearly because I was lucky enough to spend the day at the premier of Mishmash.

At Mishmash, art, fashion, dance, music, craft and food collide and become an inspiring mix of creativity. This all took place in the beautiful setting of Genevieve and Adam’s garden, the visionaries and organisers behind Mishmash. Genevieve and Adam have always loved all things creative and when they moved into their new home in January, they had the inspiring idea of putting on a monthly mini arts festival in their garden. After working incredibly long hours and despite Genevieve being heavily pregnant, they pulled off the wonder of all wonders and Mishmash came to life.

The hundreds of people who attended Mishmash were all treated to a feast of pure delight. We soaked up the visual feasts of art and sculpture in the Orange gallery from artists such as Sanaa Gatega and the artists from Njovu studio and sculptures from Ronex and Mukomba. The event was punctuated with energetic performances from the contemporary dance company “Keiga” who interacted with the audience as they weaved their way through the onlookers onto their grassy stage. We browsed in the craft stalls where original jewellery, bags, postcards, rugs, cushions and clothes were for sale. I loved “Kampala Fairs” multi coloured rugs and I have promised to treat myself to one of their beautiful rugs in the near future.

Every great event has great food, and Equator Catering didn’t disappoint. We had Mishmash Breakfast. You can’t beat a decent cooked breakfast and the sausages were the best I’ve tasted in Kampala! There was a licensed bar where you could order cocktails, wine, beers, Bloody Marys and a wide range of hot and cold beverages.

It was a real family event and the children were well catered for too. You could pay for face painting, balloon sculpting or even have a master art class with Ro - one of the featured artists - a great opportunity for all young, future budding artists. There was even a supervised play park area and the chance to experience a magical swing hung from a huge imposing tree. Our children spent hours flying through the air on it.

There was also a Giant Jenga game you could play with. The game became a visual and dramatic spectacle in its own right, taking on a life of its own. The players transformed into actors in this tense game as the people watching became an entranced audience, as the players carefully slid the wooden blocks out one by one, until the final act when the whole thing finally came tumbling down.

Later in the day the garden naturally transformed itself into a catwalk as models showcased Stella Atal’s fashion. After dark, as the fire burned and lights magically lit up the trees, KADS gave a brilliant sneak preview of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”. The day was relaxing, friendly and inspiring. Genevieve and Adam have definitely brought a creative gift for the people of Kampala. Mishmash is manna sent from heaven and will definitely bring sustenance for your soul.

One of the things we miss about living in the United Kingdom - Wales in particular - is the accessibility to a wide array of arts. Living near one of the UK’s most cosmopolitan and beautiful cities, Cardiff, we were really spoilt for choice. Before we moved to Kampala last year we were frequent visitors to Cardiff’s huge range of art events which enabled us to enjoy innovative theatre, dance, photography, street art, and community art festivals.

Kampala on the other hand really does lack the necessary facilities, opportunities and the platform for the creative artists to develop and flourish. Until now!

Don’t miss the chance to experience something truly beautiful when the MishMash’s monthly event rolls around again. On either the last Sunday or Saturday of every month, MishMash will open its doors and welcome you to enjoy an explosive day of art, live music and dance.

For more information,
please log onto: www.mishmashuganda.com