Blackman Tambularts became widely known as “the young boy who carried his guitar everywhere,” playing music for anyone willing to listen.
His passion led him to join a local band, performing at venues across Jinja town. In 2013, he took part in the nationally televised Coca-Cola Rated Next competition, where he met fellow young artists. Together with Timothy Kirya, Jay K Mulungi, and Joel Ssali, he co-founded The Ancient Band, performing at various shows in Kampala. However, Blackman later stepped away from the band to return to school.
In 2017, he competed in Jinja’s Got Talent and continued performing and recording with another band. Unfortunately, like many grassroots initiatives, the band struggled financially as most venues were unwilling or unable to pay for performances. This experience of playing music with little to no compensation sparked a deep reflection in Blackman about the value of music, representation, and sustainability in the arts.
This reflection led to the co-founding of Tambularts, a visual arts and music organisation rooted in community and accessibility. Tambularts was born out of a desire to challenge the over-reliance on foreign aid in the arts sector and to create a more sustainable model. As a social enterprise, Tambularts runs visual art and music workshops around themes such as race, environmental issues, and children's rights. Participants who can afford to pay help subsidise free sessions for those who cannot. This model has allowed the organisation to operate more sustainably while remaining accessible to underserved communities.
In 2023, Blackman relocated to the UK, where he currently works at Bedford Creative Arts, a corporate arts organisation. There, he continues to develop his skills in project management and deepen his understanding of how art and music are represented in different contexts. He is committed to bringing this knowledge back to his networks in Uganda, further strengthening the mission of Tambularts.
Despite his administrative work, Blackman remains musically active, performing primarily in Luganda and proudly promoting Ugandan culture. He believes that language is a vital component of cultural identity, and through his performances, he continues to celebrate and share that heritage with new audiences.
