Fast-rising Ugandan artist Joshua Baraka, who is gaining a strong reputation in East Africa’s music scene, surprised many on social media when he revealed that he has roots in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
Baraka, who shot to fame with his hit song “Nana”, disclosed that although he is recognized as a Ugandan national, his parents come from different countries. He made these revelations during a press interview held in Kampala, where he explained that his father hails from Busia, a region in western Kenya, while his mother is Ugandan.
Baraka also revealed that he spent a significant part of his childhood in Eldoret, Kenya. During the interview, he even spoke a few words in one of the local Kenyan languages, further emphasizing his Kenyan heritage.
On the other hand, the Afrobeat singer also mentioned that although his mother is Ugandan, she has close ties to Rwanda. He explained that she belongs to the Banyankole ethnic group, a community that includes many people whose roots trace back to Rwanda before colonial powers redrew African borders during the Berlin Conference held in Germany in 1884.
He said, “Whenever I meet the Banyankole, they greet me with ‘Agandi,’ because that’s where my mother is from. But I’m a Ugandan who feels a deep connection to Rwandans.”
These statements from Baraka, who recently released a summer hit titled “Wrong Move”, have sparked intense discussions on social media. Many Kenyans, impressed by his musical style, argue that no Ugandan could sing the way he does, suggesting he may be closely related to talented Kenyan musicians like Bien, formerly of the group Sauti Sol.
On the other hand, Ugandans point to his maternal Ugandan heritage, arguing that children often take after their mothers, especially depending on how much time they spend with each parent. This, they say, makes Baraka a Ugandan artist, even if Joshua the individual may also identify as Kenyan.
Meanwhile, the artist is riding high on success following the release of his track “Wrong Place”, which has already garnered millions of streams on music platforms just one month after its release.
