American singer-songwriter Matt B, born Matthew David Benson, has donated all four of his Grammy Awards to the Uganda Museum — a first for any African country.
The 35-year-old Afrobeat artist arrived in Kampala on Wednesday alongside his wife and manager, Angela Valarie Benson, to hand over the trophies in person. His visit marks both a personal milestone and a cultural moment.
“Uganda has welcomed me with open arms, and I am so grateful,” he said shortly after landing. “When other countries were not open to some of the things I was doing, Uganda was.”
He added, “To Uganda and to the Ugandan people, thank you so much for embracing me, thank you so much for allowing me to be creative and for supporting me.”
The donation will be housed in a specially curated exhibition space at the Uganda Museum. It will include the Grammy statues, behind-the-scenes material from Matt B’s Africa-based projects, and stories of Ugandan producers, musicians, and creatives who contributed to his work.
Matt B won the four awards at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards for his album ALKEBULAN II, a record deeply rooted in African collaboration. He worked extensively with Ugandan artists such as Rulz and Zigi Nana to bring the project to life.
He had previously been nominated in 2022 for the song “Gimme Love,” a cross-continental collaboration with Ugandan musician Eddy Kenzo. The track climbed to No. 36 on Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart.
The song’s music video, directed by his wife Angela, received multiple international awards. “I dedicate this award to my beautiful wife @angelavbenson who has been with me every step of the way throughout this journey. Our first GRAMMY win,” he said during his acceptance speech at the time.
Uganda’s cultural and tourism bodies have embraced the gesture.
“This marks a historic milestone for our creative and tourism sectors,” said Juliana Kagwa, the recently appointed CEO of the Uganda Tourism Board. “It showcases the growing influence of Uganda’s music industry on the global stage.”
Kagwa added that the moment also serves as a message to young Ugandan creatives: “Global success can be achieved through collaboration, authenticity, and cultural pride.”
As part of the visit, the Uganda Tourism Board organized a city tour for Matt B and his team, including stops at cultural landmarks such as the Uganda Martyrs Museum, Kabaka’s Palace, and the Kasubi Tombs — as well as local music studios.
Besigye Jackline, Acting Commissioner for Museums and Monuments under the Ministry of Tourism, said the donation “marks a monumental moment in our cultural history.”
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Matt B for choosing Uganda as the home for these global accolades,” she said.
The museum exhibit and Matt B’s visit align with Uganda’s broader tourism strategy to highlight its creative economy — placing music and the arts alongside wildlife, heritage, and adventure in the country’s national identity.
