Last month, Ugandan entertainment booking service, Fezah App, celebrated its 3rd year. The startup used the same occasion to make a couple of announcements.
This included expanding to Rwanda, introducing ad monitoring tools as well as market intelligence services to Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) called AudioMatch.
Elijah Kitaka, Fezah App Co-founder, and CEO, also pointed out that the app "is now the official booking app for the Bayimba International Festival, DOADOA East African Performing Arts Market, and The Jazz & Soul Safari."
However, the story doesn't end there. Fezah is intensifying its efforts in events by either organizing its own or finding event organizers to partner with.
"Fezah runs or partners with great events (we call them stages)," Elijah told. Adding that they are "currently involved in 7 events."
Tomorrow, Fezah is organizing its Fezah Saturday Unplugged event at Design Hub Kampala in the industrial area with local Ugandan artist, Naava Grey, set to be the performer. Naava won't be the first to perform on the stage. In June, Sauti Ya Africa graced the same stage.
In addition to the Saturday event, Fezah App has 6 more events that they organize or participate in as partners according to Elijah.
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"Fezah Friday Live Edition (focused on great East African Jazz instrumentalists), African Jazz Day (focused on Jazz talent from across the continent), Johnnie Walker Jazz Safari (an international Jazz concert that features a Fezah hour), Johnnie Walker Soul Safari (an international Soul concert that features a Fezah hour), DOADOA (an annual East African performing marketplace that attracts bookers from around the world) and Bayimba International Festival (an annual festival featuring international artists in all genres)."
He pointed out that they use these events to give an audience to the artists they have on their platform. "[These are stages] on which we can showcase our artists," Elijah wrote.
Currently, Fezah app has at least 200 artists on its platform spread across the East African region. "We currently have over 200 artists from Uganda and Kenya using Fezah."
The startup's business model is a hybrid. It involves subscription for the artists profiled on the app as well as a commission per booking.
"Our entry-level plan is $8 per month. That gives an artist access to our app, market intelligence data, and other services. We additionally charge the artist a 10% commission off every gig booked through Fezah."
Elijah co-founded Fezah with Ham Namakajjo who recently resigned from Jumia as Country Manager.