02/12/2025
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ด๐ฒ๐: ๐๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐๐น ๐ผ๐ณ ๐จ๐ด๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ'๐ ๐ค๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฟ๐
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ'๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐'๐ฌ "๐ ๐ก๐๐ญ๐ญ๐จ" ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐ฐ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐'๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ฒโ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ญ ๐ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐
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๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ
was six years old when he wrote his first songโa tribute to his mother. She never heard it. He never sang it to her. It's the kind of detail that feels almost too poetic to be real, yet it perfectly encapsulates the bittersweet essence of the 24-year-old Ugandan artist who has become East Africa's most unlikely musical export.
Born December 13, 2000, in Kawempe to a Kenyan father and Ugandan mother, Joshua grew up in Bwaiseโa ramshackle neighborhood he describes without hesitation as "the ghetto," where poverty defined the landscape but community defined the people. "You could look into the next person's living room! There was no money around, but there was a lot of life," he recalls with the kind of honesty that has become his trademark.
This isn't a rags-to-riches story dressed in typical triumphalism. It's something more nuanced, more realโthe journey of someone who makes music "for all the people who couldn't chase their dreams because of the situations they were born into."
๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ฟ๐๐บ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป๐ผ๐
Joshua's mother was a worship leader, and music saturated his childhood. "My dad is a pastor so I tried to learn drums in churchโthen when I was 12 they started teaching music at my school, and I was so fascinated by notes and music itself, there was so much I wanted to knowโฆ"
But fascination alone doesn't pay bills in Bwaise. As a teenager, Joshua honed his craft playing piano in bars and restaurants throughout Kampala late into the nightโperformances that both refined his talent and helped him survive his formative years.
He initially dreamed of becoming a doctor, but after struggling with his A-level exams, he made a decision that would change everything: he dropped out of school to pursue music professionally. His parents, recognizing something special in their son, supported the leap of faith.
By 19, he released his debut EP ๐๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฉ๐ฌ in August 2021โa four-track project he produced and wrote entirely in a makeshift studio. Ever the perfectionist, he felt the project's mixing was unrefined, yet it received considerable acclaim in Uganda, especially the standout track "Tewekweka".
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ ๐๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐: ๐ช๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ฑ
Joshua sat down one morning after a night session and wrote "Nana" in about three hoursโjust a verse and a chorus on a track by producer Jae5. He gave it time, let it breathe. Months later, looking for something upbeat to kick off a new year, he released it.
The modern dancehall track seamlessly fused Afrobeats, dancehall, and reggae elements, with uplifting lyrics and a memorable chorus that made it undeniable. "Before I knew it, it was all over Africa, and it was doing amazing," Joshua remembers, still sounding slightly disbelieved.
The song secured the number one spot on Apple Music Top 100 Uganda and the Audiomack Uganda chart, becoming the most Shazamed track in the country while climbing steadily up Kenyan charts. The viral success catapulted him into superstardom in 2023, giving him what he calls his "first real taste of fame".
Then came the remix. Joeboy reached out first, genuinely loving the song. Joshua couldn't believe it. He DM'd Bien, who was open to collaborating. Same with King Promise. The remix propelled the song to even greater heights. The track earned three nominations at the 2023 African Muzik Magazine Awards.
"And I've never looked back," he says simply.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด
There's something about Joshua Baraka's voiceโa naturally high-pitched, "lowkey" tone that draws comparisons to Ayra Starr and Tems. But comparisons miss the point. His music is a deliberate blend of reggae, ragga, dancehall, Afrobeats, soul, and R&B, designed to get East Africans moving while maintaining emotional depth.
His introspective lyrics and genre-blending sound have captivated audiences worldwide, accumulating over 460,000 monthly Spotify listeners and more than 20 million streams across all platforms. His latest single "Wrong Places"โproduced by Grammy-winning JAE5โhas garnered over 8.2 million Spotify plays and 11 million YouTube views in just four months.
"All the songs are different, but they all have a sadness to themโlike a soul to them," he explains about his recent mixtape ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ. "When people listen to songs like 'Scared,' I want them to know that I've gone through all these things but am still a bit scared. And it's okay to feel like that. In many songs, I try to get people to feel like they're not alone."
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ-๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ ๐๐น๐๐ถ-๐๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐
Joshua is an avid manga readerโa detail that might seem trivial but speaks to his ability to find beauty and narrative in unexpected places. Beyond singing and songwriting, he's a talented multi-instrumentalist and producer who produced five out of seven tracks on his ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ฌ project, showcasing versatility that extends beyond performance into the technical architecture of his sound.
"I'd love to get into film scoring and maybe a bit of fashion here and there," he shares about future ambitions. As a self-proclaimed anime fan, he has specific series in mind for dream soundtrack projects.
His musical heroes? Maurice Kirya, Radio (from Radio and Weasel), Burna Boy, Cory Henry, and Kirk Franklinโa list that perfectly captures his cross-pollination of gospel roots, Ugandan legends, and contemporary Afrobeats giants.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ด๐ฒ-๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ: ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
"I want my music to be a bridge," Joshua declares with quiet conviction. "If I can open doors for East African artists, I've done something meaningful."
This isn't empty rhetoric. His global reach gives voice to local dreams, redefining what it means to be an East African artist on the world stage. "Uganda has a lot to offer the world. I just try to present that and get more eyes to look at us. It feels good to know your people have your back."
"Many East African artists aren't very good at networking outside the region," he observes pragmatically. "My role is to bridge the gap and create as many networks and channels as possible. For example, I'm being featured on OkayAfrica, and there's a chance another Ugandan artist will be here because I've been here."
His Pan-African collaborations include work with Joeboy, Simi, Deejay Neptune, King Promise, Bien, Ghana's Bryan the Mensah and Yaw Tog, Kenya's Maya Amolo, and South Africa's Nkosazana Daughter. Each collaboration is strategicโnot for his career alone, but for the ecosystem he's trying to build.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐ฒ: ๐ก๐๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ก๐ผ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐
The trajectory has been remarkable. Since "Nana," Joshua has been nominated for Trace and AFRIMMA awards, toured Europe opening for Bien, worked with Joeboy, Ghetts, JAE5, and FAVE, and was named a Spotify Africa RADAR artist in 2024. He's been nominated for "Best East African Artist" and "Most Promising New Artist" at AFRIMA.
In 2024, he released the deluxe edition of ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ฌ, earned a Spotify RADAR Africa spotlight in Kampala, and took home East African Artist of the Year at the HiPipo Music Awards.
But perhaps most telling: one scroll through his comment sections confirms the sense of pride his success instills in Ugandans across the diaspora, with messages like "You're really gonna make it Joshua Baraka. You're gonna carry Ugandan music to far places".
๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐จ๐ฝ
"'Growing Pains' was first of all a personal project. I wanted it to pass on a message that growth hurts, but it's necessary," he explains. The project's lead single "Dalilah"โa sugary love song produced by close collaborator Axonโclaimed top positions on Ugandan DSP charts.
His latest seven-track mixtape ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ, released in December 2024, features collaborations with Ghana's KiDi, Kenya's Bensoul, and production from P.Priime (celebrated for work with Wizkid and Burna Boy). "๐๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ is like an interludeโa bridge between ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ฌ and the album. I wanted to drop a project people could listen to while I finish," he explains.
The albumโhis debut full-lengthโis coming. So far he's completed about three songs, but there's still much new music to create.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐บ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฟ๐
"I was just blessed to be there, honestly, because I was the least exposed out of all of them," Joshua reflects on sharing stages with continental superstars. "The thing I learned most was how much work is required to actually finish a tour and achieve these things. It really gave me insight into how much work I needed to do."
Even amid collaborations, accolades, and international travel, he operates like a young person still in awe that his dreams have come trueโwith utmost humility and grace.
His dream stages? "Coachella, Grammys, and Madison Square Garden." His favorite meal? "Rice with beans."
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐จ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ก๐ผ๐
At September 2025's Blankets & Wine Festival in Nairobiโwhere Grammy-winner Tems headlinedโJoshua became an unexpected closing act after giving up his slot to accommodate Tems' schedule. He brought out Bien, Maya Amolo, and Mr. Tee for surprise appearances that thrilled the waiting crowd.
"Festivals like Blankets & Wine give us consistent exposure and credibility as performers. That's what builds careers," he noted. "Blankets & Wine is not just a festival but an honored institution that will continue to professionalize and globalize East Africa's music scene into the future."
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ป๐ผ๐
"Growing up without much teaches you to appreciate what you already have and the things around you. You learn to survive and to stay happy with little," Joshua reflects on his Bwaise upbringing. "The experiences of the people around me, the sense of community, and the sense of hope have all shaped how I write my music."
For young artists facing similar challenges, his advice is straightforward: "Do your best to grow your craft and be the best at what you do. Be consistently good and never forget to pray."
His dream collaborations remain ambitious: "Chronixx, Wizkid, Tems, Beyoncรฉ, Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran, Adeleโthe list is endless. I admire these artists not only for their talent but also for pushing boundaries and connecting with their audiences."
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๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐: ๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ต๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฎ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
In an era where African music is finally receiving its long-overdue global recognition, Joshua Baraka represents something beyond mere talent or timing. He's the embodiment of what happens when authentic storytelling meets strategic vision, when local specificity achieves universal resonance.
While many of his contemporaries remain confined to regional audiences, his music has a unique borderless appealโsonically fluid and emotionally resonant, yet still deeply steeped in Ugandan cultural and aesthetic references.
"I feel like a lot of the world thinks Africa sounds a certain way," he observes. His dedication to fusion is birthing exciting sonic worlds, expanding dominant and limiting conceptions of what African music can be.
He's not just making music. He's building infrastructure. He's creating templates. He's opening doors.
One comment under his mini-documentary reads: "I feel like we as UG are so blessed to have a person like you."
From Bwaise to the world, Joshua Baraka is proving that the boy who wrote a song his mother never heard has finally found an audience that can't stop listening.
And he's just getting started.
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