With the release of his first official studio album, Juvie, Joshua Baraka has cemented his status as one of Africa’s most promising new voices after a journey moulded by hardship, tenacity, and unflinching confidence. The 12-track project — carefully produced yet deeply nuanced — reads like an intimate journal entry from Baraka’s colourful inner world. under the creative guidance of Grammy-winning producer JAE5.

A recurring motif in Baraka’s earlier pieces of work, such as Baby Steps (2021), Watershed (2022), Growing Pains (2023), and Recess (2024), Juvie represents the next step in her ongoing story of personal development. Here, the Ugandan singer-songwriter indicates a shift: the youthful experiments of earlier years give way to a more defined, adult vision, yet the spirit of excitement and wonder remains alive. With JAE5 adding his unique UK Afroswing flair, Baraka raises his sound while keeping firmly rooted to the influences that shaped him.