Joshua Baraka has added another cross-border credit to his résumé, and this one spans three countries.
KlaViral has learned the Ugandan singer is featured on “Locked In,” a new single from Kenyan-American artist Lovince Mckenzie, with Nigeria’s Ayo Maff also on the track. The song ties together the music scenes of Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria in one record.
Here’s the deal — “Locked In” is a preview of Mckenzie’s upcoming EP, “Dance and Soul.” The project blends his East African roots with Afrobeats, Afro-house and electronic dance music, and it’s built around themes of longing, connection, resilience and identity. The goal is a sound that works for both private listening and the dance floor.
Turns out, Baraka’s part is about reach. His feature gives the song a Ugandan voice and a way to get in front of listeners beyond Uganda.
And Mckenzie and Maff aren’t strangers. They’ve linked up before on “Light Up,” a track that helped introduce Mckenzie’s music to a wider audience. Mckenzie’s earlier songs, including “Lover,” “Home,” “See Me” and “My Heart,” lean into love and personal experience, while “On My Way” moves further into Afro-house and melodic dance music.
So the EP is shaping up as the next test of how Mckenzie combines his Kenyan roots, emotional songwriting and dance music.
Three artists, three countries, one single — the East Africa-to-Lagos pipeline keeps getting busier.
No word on the EP’s release date, and we’ll update when one lands.
