By the time Joshua Baraka stepped onto the stage at Nkore Place in Mbarara, the city already been waiting for him all night.
Then, at around 1:00am, the venue erupted.
Screams filled the air, phones went up and revellers pushed closer to the stage as Baraka launched into a set that turned the final regional stop of his Brakaland Tour into a celebration of just how far his music has travelled.
From the opening notes to the final song, the crowd sang along to virtually every word, moving through a catalogue had that included “Nana”, “YoYo”, “Dive In”, “This Time”, “Wrong Places”, “Dreams”, “Morocco” and “Dalilah.”
It was less a performance that required an introduction and more a homecoming for an artiste whose songs had already found their way into the audience.
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“Joshua is my favourite artiste. There is no song of his that I don’t know or stream,” one reveller said during the show.
The response captured the mood of the night.
Mbarara had come ready.
Long before Baraka appeared, DJs had been building the atmosphere, with the crowd gradually turning Nkore Place into a dance floor. DJ Spinny later took over the decks, delivering an Amapiano-heavy set that kept revellers moving as the night gathered momentum.
The event also carried the spirit of Johnnie Walker’s Keep Walking campaign, with the brand serving as the main sponsor of the Brakaland Tour.
Whisky serves and cocktails flowed throughout the night, adding to the celebratory atmosphere as fans gathered to mark the final regional chapter of Baraka’s journey across Uganda.
Speaking at the event, Julius Ssenungi, Johnnie Walker Shopper Marketing Manager, said Baraka's story reflected the message behind the partnership.
“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,” Ssenungi said.
“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.”
For Baraka, the Mbarara performance marked the end of the regional roadshow, which had already taken the B’rakaland experience to Gulu, Arua and Mbale.
The idea behind the tour has been to take his music beyond Kampala and meet audiences in their own cities turning the journey itself into part of the experience.
And Mbarara provided an appropriately loud final regional chapter.
After the show, Baraka thanked the city for the reception and pointed fans towards the final destination.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
The roadshow may now be over, but the bigger show is still ahead.
Baraka will bring the Uganda edition of his first-ever roadshow to a close on Saturday, November 28, at the Kampala Hockey Grounds, where the different chapters of the journey will converge for the grand finale.
Tickets are priced at UGX 75,000 for General Admission, UGX 120,000 for VIP and UGX 2 million for a table.
For fans who missed the stops in Gulu, Arua, Mbale and Mbarara, Kampala will be the final opportunity to experience Brakaland in Uganda.
Mbarara was the final regional stop and the walk, however, continues.