Singer Joshua Baraka has shared an interesting story about how he quit school to focus on his music career after earning Shs800,000 in just 10 minutes from his work as a gigging musician.
Speaking during an interview on Adesope Live, an Afrobeats podcast, the “Nana” hitmaker narrated that he knew he was going to be a singer from childhood, as he used to participate in music competitions.
Born and raised in Bwaise, a suburb in Kampala, Joshua disclosed that his family was struggling financially, hence he started hustling at an early age to make ends meet.
The teenage Joshua was earning a living playing the piano, guitar, and singing covers in bars. At the same time, he was pursuing a certificate in Building and Construction, as he wanted to become an engineer.
One day, when he was struggling to find food, a friend called him, revealing that he had secured a performing gig for him.
“I accepted immediately because I needed money,” Joshua said, before adding, “When I reached the venue, the woman asked me how long I was going to perform and how much I wanted. I told her that I could perform for 20 minutes, but she said 10 minutes were enough and offered me Shs800,000.”
The following day, when Joshua returned to school and was taken to the field for their usual construction works, he declined and left school.
“I had made Shs800,000 in 10 minutes, yet for construction work, they pay Shs4,000 per day. I had to quit and concentrate on music,” he said.
Maybe he was right, maybe not, but Joshua is currently one of the fastest-rising stars in Uganda, with collaborations with international stars like Joeboy from Nigeria, King Promise from Ghana, and Kenya’s Bien.
