JOSHUA BARAKA
Joshua Baraka has arguably been the biggest breakout star of 2023. His song Nana was an instant hit, receiving massive airplay in Uganda and across the continent.
The song’s video has so far garnered 3.4 million views on YouTube and was the most streamed Ugandan song on Spotify last year with at least 3.6 million streams. He went ahead and did a remix for the song featuring Nigeria’s Joeboy, Ghana’s King Promise and Kenya’s Bien.
According to Songboost, an airplay tracking app for Ugandan music on radio and TV stations across 9 countries in Africa, Nana was the third most played Ugandan song on TV and radio stations in 2023.
Baraka also emerged as the second most streamed Ugandan artist on Spotify behind Eddy Kenzo with a total of 5.3 million streams, up from just 170,000 streams in 2022. The fast-rising singer in December released his third EP Growing Pains, which in less than a month received more than 1.6 million streams on Spotify alone.
Other notable songs released by the singer this year include Omukwano, a collaboration with Winnie Nwagi, and Dreams.
ALIEN SKIN
The most controversial artiste of the year; but away from the controversy, Alien Skin real name Patrick Mulwana, has delivered one of 2023’s biggest anthems, Party, which gained 2.1 million views on YouTube.
His other songs such as Tonzijukiza Lockdown, Twayiseko Dda, Kitiribita, Enfunayo, Mitwe with Dax Kartel have also been popular. In November, YouTube awarded Alien Skin with a silver plaque after he reached 100,000 subscribers on his channel, making him the fastest local artiste to reach this milestone having done it in less than a year since he opened up the channel.
“Chameleone has been very controversial throughout his career, but he has always remained relevant musically and it is his music prowess that has kept him in our faces. However, for Alien Skin, his controversies outweigh his music,” Eddie Sendikadiwa, a music industry analysis, said.
Still, Alien Skin enjoys unwavering support from his legion of fans (Fangone Army) and the crowds go crazy whenever he steps on stage. Yet with all the buzz around him, Alien Skin announced he would be quitting music at the end of 2023.
“I am going to quit music in December because I have done everything and it is time for me to pave way for young artistes. I don’t want to be a dictator like other musicians,” he said back in October and even hinted on joining politics in 2024 with his own political party – Fangone Unity Platform (FUP).
VINKA
Almost everything Vinka touched in 2023 turned into gold. In April, the Swangz Avenue singer released Bailando, which topped the charts for months. The song video has so far garnered 4.4 million views on YouTube, making it the most watched Ugandan music video of 2023.
Bailando also took the number one spot as the most played song on radio and TV, according to Songboost. Vinka also saw success with the Chekecha remix with Karole Kasita and Winnie Nwagi. The song had originally been done by Karole Kasita without much success.
It was the first time three solo female artistes collaborated on a track, and it was worth it as it has been one of the biggest songs of the year. The video for this catchy hit has been the second most watched on YouTube with over 3.7 million views.
Vinka’s ballad with Daxx Vybez titled Believe also topped the charts in the final months of 2023. The song peaked at number one on Uganda’s Apple Music top 100 songs and still remains in the top ten with more than one million views on YouTube.
Vinka also teamed up with Elijah Kitaka on Tutu Mama, which has over 1.1 million views on YouTube. Vinka closed off the year with All Over You, a dancehall song she released three weeks ago and is already gaining popularity. Last year was Vinka’s year; we wait to see whether Swangz Avenue will give in to fans’ pressure and organize a concert for her this year
AZAWI
Azawi continued to show her music prowess by releasing her second studio album Sankofa in October and thereafter a concert at Kampala Serena Hotel the same month.
The 16-track album featured collaborations from Jamaica’s Konshens, Kenyans Besoul and Rwanda’s Mike Kayihura, with songs off the album such as Ten Over 10 being among the year’s best. With a total of 4.3 million streams in 2023, she was the most streamed Ugandan female artiste on Spotify.
READY FOR 2024
Before even 2023 came to an end, various artistes had already announced their upcoming shows due to take place this year, and the first half of the year already looks action packed.
Fik Fameica will kick off this year’s concerts on January 26 in a show dubbed King Kong, Live in the City. The rapper will for the first time take on Lugogo Cricket Oval following a successful concert at Hotel Africana in 2022. The following day on January 27, David Lutalo will be at Kampala Serena hotel for his Babongoote concert.
This will be Lutalo’s second concert in less than a year after his sold-out concert at Hotel Africana last September. Lutalo also returns to his previous schedule of holding concerts in January, which had been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. On February 23, Rema Namakula will serenade her fans at Sheraton hotel gardens in a concert dubbed Melodies of Love.
The following Friday on March 1, Lydia Jazmine will hold her maiden concert at Hotel Africana. One of the most anticipated shows of 2024 is the Blu 3 concert slated to take place on Women’s day, March 8 at Kampala Serena hotel. The trio of Cindy, Lilian Mbabazi and Jackie Chandiru had a reunion show at Skyz Hotel last December after 15 years of disbanding.
Since the venue was rather small to accommodate all their fans, the group announced a bigger show at Serena Hotel on Women’s Day. One of the biggest artistes on the continent, Davido will also be coming to Uganda for the third time, in a show dubbed The Timeless Concert, slated for March 29 at Lugogo Cricket Oval.
The Grammy nominated singer last performed in Uganda on January 1, 2019 at the Pearl of Africa hotel, but he returns to Uganda as an even bigger star following the worldwide success of his fourth studio album, Timeless, released last year. The album has received three Grammy awards for Best Global Music Album, Best Global Music Performance for the song Feel, and Best African Music Performance for the song Unavailable.
The B2C boys, who had a good 2023, will also be returning in concert this year on May 10. Details for the venue are yet to be announced.
TOP 50 SONGS OF 2023 ACCORDING TO SONGBOOST
1. Bailando, Vinka
2. Chekecha remix, Karole Kasita,Vinka, Winnie Nwagi
3. Nana, Joshua Baraka
4. Wanawankya, Bentiboys
5. Believe, Daxx Vibez, Vinka
6. Ten Over Ten, Azawi
7. Sitya Danger, Alien Skin
8. Shabada, Ava Peace, Mudra
9. Bwepaba, Fik Fameica, Sheebah
10. Tonyt, Rema
11. Party, Alien Skin
12. Nkujjukira,Sheebah
13. Nyiga Wano, Carol Nantongo
14. Pose, Kataleya and Kandle
15. Byonkola, David Lutalo
16. Nana remix, Joshua Baraka, Joeboy
17. Salary, Ugaboys
18. Nanana, John Blaq
19. Tosobola, Sheebah
20. Did I die, Hatim and Dokey
21. Kitooke kya Gonja, B2C
22. This Year, Omega 256
23. Ndabula, Carol Nantongo
24. Binkolele, Kataleya and Kandle
25. Let It Rain, Chosen Becky
26. My Guy, Big Tril, Fik Fameica
27. Risk, Vyroota
28. Omwana, Juliana Kanyomozi
29. Balipira Boda, Eddy Kenzo
30. Essanyu Dagala, Irene Ntale
31. Okwepicha, Gravity Omutujju
32. Kawoowo, Lydia Jazmine
33. Last Chance, Acidic Vokoz
34. Chai Wenjaye, Omutume Planet
35. Ebiseera Ebyo, King Saha
36. Singa, John Blaq
37. Ngenda Nawe, B2C
38. Beautiful Mami, Rickman
39. Tondwisa, Spice Diana, Chris Evans
40. Crazy Company, B2C, Fik Fameica
41. Cheza For Yesu, Gabie Ntaate
42. Bega Bega remix, Pallaso, Chameleone
43. Ebbaluwa, Irene Ntale
44. Mu Kisenge, Crysto Panda, Winnie Nwagi
45. Pretty Pretty, King Saha, Feffe Bussi
46. Bend and Pause, B2C
47. Chaw Chaw, Deejay LL
48. Babongoote, David Lutalo
49. Tutu Mama, Elijah Kitaka, Vinka
50. Byowaba, Bebe Cool
MOST WATCHED MUSIC VIDEOS
Bailando, Vinka (4.4 million)
Chekecha remix, Karole Kasita, Vinka, Winnie Nwagi (3.7 million)
Nana, Joshua Baraka (3.4 million)
Bwepaba, Sheebah, Fik Fameica (2.6 million)
Let It Rain, Chosen Becky (2.4 million)
Risk, Vyroota (2.1 million)
Party, Alien Skin (2.1 million)
Tonyt, Rema Namakula (2.1 million)
Shabada, Ava Peace and Mudra (2 million)
Pretty Pretty, King Saha and Feffe Bussi (1.9 million) Chai Wenjaye, Omutume Planet (1.6 million) Okwepicha, Gravity Omutujju (1.6 million)
Empere, Crysto Panda (1.4 million)
Ebiseera Ebyo, King Saha (1.4 million)
Ten Over Ten, Azawi (1.4 million)
jjingoernest1@gmail.com
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