From Kawempe to Mbale, B’raka takes over Mbale

What the report says

Joshua Baraka drew a large crowd in Mbale over the weekend as part of his Into the B’raka Land nationwide tour, according to Sqoop Uganda. The concert at Bandali Lounge marked one of several stops in a run that also includes Gulu, Arua, Mbarara and other Ugandan cities, after earlier criticism from some fellow artists about whether he could attract audiences outside the capital and a few regional music hubs.

Sqoop Uganda reported that fans in Mbale, including some who traveled from Soroti, turned up early for the show despite an initial rain scare. Baraka performed a mix of his songs, including “What Do I Know,” “Nana,” “Dalilah,” “Tonight,” “This Time,” “Wrong Places” and “Yoyo,” and paused at moments to speak with the audience about the meanings behind some of his music. He also repeated one song after the crowd asked for it, reinforcing the interactive tone of the concert.

The article said Baraka brought local artist Geeza Rabel on stage as a guest performer, adding a regional collaboration element to the event. It also noted that Johnnie Walker had recently named Baraka its icon walker and joined his tour as part of its “Keep Walking” campaign, framing him as an artist it sees as symbolizing progress.

The performance in Mbale is part of a broader push that helps measure Baraka’s growing reach beyond Uganda’s main urban music markets. Sqoop Uganda said his next stops include Mbarara, followed by shows in Mombasa and Kampala.