Who: Joshua Baraka
At 22 years old, singer-songwriter Baraka is the fastest rising star in his native
Uganda,currently one of the most listened to artists in the country, enjoying sold
out shows, chart topping hits and adoring fans. This wasn’t always a given. Born
and raised in Bwaise in Kampala district, Joshua grew up in a place he describes
as ‘the ghetto’
, a ramshackle area defined by poverty and community that he has
complex feelings towards.
“It was tough but kind of cool. Houses are literally
joined, there’s no gate, there’s nothing, just united suffering really-
”aware that
this paints an overly negative picture, he clarifies-
“but you got to interact with
everyone. You could look into the next person’s living room! There was no money
around, it’s a poor people area, but there was a lot of life. My parents tried not to
let us get too deep into the ghetto, and music kept me away from ghetto Activities.