There is a particular kind of inspiration in watching Joshua Baraka command a stage while an entire crowd sings back every word. It is the kind of moment that makes you pause and consider just how far the young Ugandan has come.
Before 2023, little was known about the singer who would go on to become one of Uganda’s most recognisable musical exports and one of East Africa’s fastest-rising stars. Then came Nana, the breakout hit that changed everything.
On Saturday night in Mbale, Baraka’s performance felt like a full-circle moment a celebration of how far a boy from Kawempe has come and of the journey he is still walking.
The Mbale stop of the B’rakaland EA Tour, Baraka’s first major tour across Uganda, drew a packed crowd to Bandali Lounge, with revellers beginning to arrive as early as 4pm in anticipation of the show.
“I think if they are looking for his number one fan across the world, I would come in first,” one excited reveller said.
By 7pm, Bandali Lounge was already filling up, and the night had taken on the unmistakable character of a Johnnie Walker celebration. Guests were treated to a curated experience, with cocktails and the brand’s portfolio available throughout the evening. Whether enjoyed neat, by the shot, by the bottle or mixed into a cocktail, the whisky became part of the night’s celebration.
And Mbale certainly came ready. For a moment, the energy inside Bandali Lounge could easily have been mistaken for a Saturday night in Kampala, with bottles popping and revellers turning the venue into their own party.
For Johnnie Walker, bringing the celebration to Mbale was a natural extension of its Keep Walking philosophy and its relationship with Baraka, who was recently unveiled as the brand’s Icon Walker.
“Joshua Baraka is not only the face of our new Keep Walking campaign; he is living proof of progress, a philosophy that is deeply ingrained in the DNA of Johnnie Walker. We are taking this journey with him, and it was only natural that we show up and go all out for him,” said Johnnie Walker Brand Representative Julius Ssennungi.
Then, as the clock struck midnight, the reason everyone had gathered finally took the stage.
Baraka opened with What Do I Know, immediately setting the tone for what would become a high-energy performance. By the time he launched into Wrong Places, his globally recognised hit, the crowd was completely locked in.
What followed was a run of hits that kept the room moving Dalilah, Nana, Dreams, Morocco, This Time and Dive In, among others.
From the front of the stage to the back of the venue, fans sang along, danced and gave Baraka the kind of reception reserved for an artist who has become part of their own soundtrack.
Mbale was alive, and Baraka was at the centre of it.
But he saved one final burst for Yoyo. Closing the performance with the crowd fully behind him, Baraka delivered one last energetic moment before bringing the night to an euphoric end.
By the time he walked off stage, Bandali Lounge had officially been shut down and for Baraka, however, Mbale is only another chapter in a much bigger journey.
The B’rakaland EA Tour now continues to Mbarara before eventually returning to Kampala for the grand finale at the Hockey Grounds on November 28.
The second wave of tickets for the Johnnie Walker-sponsored Kampala show is priced at UGX75,000 for Ordinary, UGX120,000 for VIP and UGX2 million for a table.