Ugandan singer Joshua Baraka has overtaken Tanzania’s heavyweight Diamond Platnumz in monthly listeners on streaming service, Spotify.
As of March 2026, Baraka sits at about 1.71 million monthly listeners, while Diamond averages around 1.5 million, signaling a notable shift in the region’s digital music rankings.
But the two artistes are lagging far behind Kenyan sensation Sofiya Nzau, whose 6.5 million streams.
Joshua Baraka's rise has been fast and steady. He first gained attention with early breakout songs like Nana, where his soft vocals and emotional style stood out.
From there, his music began spreading beyond Uganda, gaining strong support across East Africa through streaming platforms and curated playlists.
In September 2025, he made history as the first Ugandan artist to surpass 1 million monthly Spotify listeners — a milestone that marked a breakthrough for the country’s music scene.
His success has continued with hits like Wrong Places, which has become one of his biggest tracks, pushing his total catalog past 34.4 million streams, with the song alone reaching about 20.6 million streams.
Baraka’s largest listener bases today include Nairobi, Lagos, Kigali, and Kampala, reflecting strong regional crossover appeal.
On stage, he has built his reputation through major East African performances and headline international shows, including Afro Nation Portugal in 2025.
