Gender: Male

Talent Areas: Instrumentalist, Traditional Dancer

Family Background

Crespo Ocatre was born in Mbaraka Village, Arua District, in Uganda’s West Nile region. He grew up in a modest household of six – his parents and four siblings. Crespo is the second-born child. His father worked as a local electrician, while his mother ran a small trading business in their village market.

Despite their hard work, his parents struggled to meet the educational needs of all their children. Crespo’s school was five kilometers away, and he walked the distance daily – often without breakfast or lunch. Fatigue and extreme hunger severely affected his ability to focus and thrive in class.

His earliest exposure to music came through the church choir in 2016, where he began learning to play the bow harp at just 10 years old. Later, while in Primary Four, he joined his primary school choir, which helped him nurture his musical talent further. However, by the time he completed Primary Six, the family’s situation had worsened – particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic – and his education seemed likely to end in Primary Seven.

How Rockies Organization Stepped In

In 2024, Rockies Organization conducted a talent scouting mission in Arua District, looking for promising but underserved young artists. Crespo attended the screening and impressed the team with his remarkable bow harp skills. The scouting team was also moved by his story and the hardships he had faced in accessing education. He was officially enrolled into the program on 28th January 2024 – just a week before he began Primary Seven.

Rockies enrolled him at Twinlight Education Centre, Nakawuka, where he completed primary school. He is now in Senior One at St. Andrew’s College, Ssanda, continuing to access quality education and artistic training.

Talent, Uniqueness & Achievements

Crespo is an exceptional bow harp player with strong foundational skills. He is also training hard to play other instruments, such as the Mujaguzo drums.

As a dancer, he brings energy and confidence to the stage. His repertoire includes Ekizino, Ekitaguriro, and Runyege-Ntogoro dances from Western Uganda; Larakaraka  from Northern Uganda; Lugbara Dance from West Nile, Kadodi from Eastern Uganda and Zulu Dance from Southern Africa.

Aspirations

Crespo dreams of becoming an Electrical Engineer, blending his love for innovation with technical skill. He also hopes to create an Education Fund to support vulnerable children in his community – ensuring that others can access the opportunities he once feared he would never have.