Singer Joshua Baraka has distanced himself from being labelled an Afrobeats artiste, saying he prefers to be recognised as a versatile musician who explores different genres rather than being confined to one sound.
Speaking on a podcast, Baraka explained that although he occasionally makes Afrobeats music, his catalogue also draws from dancehall, pop, reggae and other styles.
He argued that producing a song in a particular genre does not automatically define an artiste’s entire musical identity.
“Afrobeats is a great genre, and dancehall is a great genre, pop too. I’m an artist. I make all that music. So, if I happen to make Afrobeats, it doesn’t make me an Afrobeats artist. If I make a reggae song, it doesn’t make me a reggae artist. I am just an artist,” he said.
Baraka also weighed in on the identity of Ugandan music, arguing that the country still lacks a clearly defined signature sound that distinguishes its music internationally.
However, he pointed to Ekidandali, which he described as a blend of reggaeton and dancehall, as one sound associated with Uganda.
“For Uganda, we lack a specific sound, but there’s one called Ekidandali, which is a mixture of reggaeton and dancehall, and it’s a crazy sound,” he said.
His remarks have highlighted the ongoing conversation about musical identity in Uganda and whether the country needs a more distinctive sound to strengthen its presence on the international stage.
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