By Our Reporter
If there was ever any doubt about Joshua Baraka’s place among Uganda’s most exciting musical acts right now, Mbarara may have just settled the debate.
Nkore Place was packed on Saturday night as revellers turned up in their numbers for the final stop of the Joshua Baraka Brakaland Tour, delivering a night of music, whisky, dancing and the kind of electric crowd energy that made it clear the journey to Kampala has been building towards something much bigger.
And if there is one thing Baraka’s journey continues to demonstrate, it is simple: Keep Walking.
From the moment revellers started filling Nkore Place, the anticipation was palpable. DJs took turns behind the decks, steadily building the energy and keeping the crowd moving as the night unfolded. By the time DJ Spinny took over, fans of Amapiano were fully catered for, with a set that turned the venue into one giant dance floor.
Johnnie Walker, the main sponsor of the Brakaland Tour, brought its own flavour to the night, with the brand’s whisky portfolio available throughout the event. From whisky serves to cocktails, revellers had plenty to choose from as they settled into a night designed for celebration.
Speaking at the event, Julius Ssenungi, Johnnie Walker Shopper Marketing Manager, said Baraka’s journey was a powerful reflection of what it means to keep moving forward. “I believe it is safe to say that we have a star on our hands, a gentleman and an artiste who has kept walking and continues to walk. If his international accolades and recognition had not already convinced you of who he is, then tonight is proof enough. We are proud at Johnnie Walker to not only collaborate and partner with such a talent, but also to bring him and this experience to our consumers across the country.”
But nothing, and absolutely nothing, prepared Mbarara for the moment the main man walked onto the stage.
At around 1am, the atmosphere at Nkore Place shifted instantly. The screams went up, phones came out and the crowd surged forward as Baraka launched into his set. From the first song to the last, the audience sang along, word for word and beat for beat.
There was “Nana”, the breakout record that first put Baraka firmly on the radar of a wider audience. There was “YoYo”, his latest release. And then came the hits that have continued to build his catalogue,“Dive In”, “This Time”, “Wrong Places”, “Dreams”, “Morocco” and “Dalilah”, among others.
The response was perhaps the clearest indication yet of how far the young artiste has come.
“Joshua is my favourite artiste. There is no song of his that I don’t know or stream,” one reveller said during the show.
And that was the story of the night. Baraka did not have to convince Mbarara that his music belongs to them. They already knew every word.
For Baraka, the Mbarara show marked the end of the roadshow’s journey across Uganda,but certainly not the end of the story.
“Thank you, Mbarara, for showing up tonight and showing me so much love. The energy is incredible, and I’m grateful to everyone who came out to walk this journey with me. We’ve taken Brakaland across Uganda, and now it’s time to take it home to. Kampala. I’ll see you at the Hockey Grounds on November 28 for the grand finale,” Baraka said.
After taking the Brakaland experience to audiences across the country, Baraka will now bring the Uganda edition of his first-ever roadshow to a close in Kampala on Saturday, November 28 at the Kampala Hockey Grounds.
For those who missed the roadshow stops in Gulu, Arua, Mbale and Mbarara, this is the final chance to catch the experience.
Tickets are going for UGX 75,000 for General Admission, UGX 120,000 for VIP, and UGX 2 million for a table.
Mbarara may have been the final stop on the road, but for Joshua Baraka, the walk continues.