Ugandan vocalist, producer and multi-instrumentalist Kyle Simbwa has been selected as the latest artist to join Apple Music’s Up Next artist development programme in East Africa, marking another significant step in his growing career.

Originally from Kasangati, Uganda, Simbwa has steadily developed a sound shaped by a wide range of influences, from ’90s R&B and soul to ’80s synth-pop, Afrobeats and Hip-Hop. The result is a distinctive Afrobeat and Alté-inspired sound that reflects both his Ugandan roots and a broader global musical palette.

Speaking about the recognition, Simbwa described the selection as an opportunity to represent a new generation of African artists creating music on their own terms. “I want people to hear my music, feel where I’m from, and see how far it can travel,” Simbwa told Apple Music.

What makes Simbwa’s rise particularly interesting is how deeply involved he is in the entire creative process. Beyond performing, he works across songwriting, production, recording, mixing and engineering, giving him greater control over the development of his sound and creative identity.

Following the release of his debut project Person in 2025, he continued expanding his catalogue with songs including “Mwana Gwe,” “Love Me or Don’t,” and “East African Girl.” His live performance journey has also grown through headline appearances at Xpressions and performances at Afro Urban, alongside artists including Mike Kayihura and Kohen Jaycee.

In 2026, Simbwa is entering a new phase with East African Summer, a seven-track EP centred on themes of love, nightlife, freedom, movement and the experiences shaping a new generation of East African youth.  The project brings together influences from Afrobeats, R&B, Hip-Hop and alternative African music, while remaining grounded in Simbwa’s Ugandan identity.

It is a project that speaks to the increasingly confident creative language coming out of East Africa, music that feels local in identity, but global in ambition.

What Apple Music Up Next Means for Kyle Simbwa

As Apple Music’s latest Up Next artist in East Africa, Simbwa will receive increased visibility through Apple Music’s Up Next platform, which spotlights emerging artists selected by Apple Music editors from around the world.

The global programme has previously featured artists who went on to become major international names, including Billie Eilish, Burna Boy, Rema, Tems, Megan Thee Stallion, Bad Bunny, H.E.R. and Daniel Caesar.

For Simbwa, the recognition adds momentum to what has already been a deliberate journey of building his catalogue, refining his sound and representing Uganda within the wider East African music conversation. And as East African music continues to gain more attention internationally, his selection is another reminder that Uganda’s new generation of artists is increasingly positioning itself for audiences far beyond the region.

Last weekend we got our visas stamped as we took a trip into the B’raka Land. After a Euro-tour through Denmark, Finland and others… All the way to a sold out show in London, the fastest rising star on the African continent came back home to Kampala to deliver an epic concert on 29^th November 2025, one day after dropping his debut album, JUVIE.

In one weekend, Joshua gave us so much to unpack. So, let’s start from the Music.
We have seen Joshua evolve from projects like Baby Steps, where songs like Tewekweka exposed some of us to his talent, all the way to Watershed, which let people know and confirm that he was for real. We journeyed with him through his Growing Pains, where the continental appeal was beginning to ring true, and then he gave us Recess. Through these many projects and countless features, Joshua has showed us his talent, consistency and heavy work ethic. It was constantly Moves on Moves until we finally got JUVIE.

Right from One of One, we knew we were in for some flames, and we did not have to wait to get them because the next song on the album, Morocco, delivered all the heat and then some. The song is a Banger, and from early reviews and reactions on the socials, it is clearly a crowd favorite. Joshua immediately follows this up with Dive In, which was released earlier as a single, so we already knew that JAE5 and Joshua Baraka had given us an anthem. The project does not slow down at all, as he continues into Still Young, another early crowd favorite, which confirmed that we were four for four with eight to go!

One of the things that made the listening process epic was the sequencing. After starting with all that heat, Joshua gives us a mini interlude, before slowing down the tempo with one of my favorite songs on the Album, This Time. It is a well written song with silky melodies and smooth vocals that will definitely appeal to the fans that are into his more afro RnB side.
Joshua kept the energy going with State of My Heart, which features Kenyan sensation, Bien, which he followed it up with Wrong Places, which spent most of 2025 as the number one song on Apple Music in Uganda and was by far the most streamed song on Spotify in Uganda this year.
Joshua Baraka’s Juvie makes for a nice, smooth and simple listening session, right from the start, all the way to the final song, So Low, featuring The Compozers, which was a perfect way to close the project and leave us on a high note.

By the time we got to Ndere Cultural Center for the concert, we were pumped and ready to get right to it. Those of us who knew all his projects and collaborations were eager to see what selection of songs he had picked to sing to us. Those of us who have watched him perform multiple times in the past were eager to witness his growth on stage and to be a part of yet another chapter of his story. Overall, there was a high dose of FOMO in the air. Before Joshua even sang, the show had already hit a number of positives in my books; great price structure from the early bird to the last day – This was perfect to allow the core fans to access and afford their night out with their superstar.

Another win for me was the strategic partnerships, from Talent Africa to Bell Citrus and Mirinda– this set up the perfect vibe and energy, making the drinks and food affordable, enabling every fan to have a total blast in this economy, especially with DecemBAR loading and Kampala about to throw event after event our way. By the time Joshua jumped on stage, the crowd was fully charged and ready to go! Shout out to Joshua and his team for ticking all the boxes.

The performance was great, overall. Joshua had great song selection, and did not leave us feeling as if we’d missed out on anything. He catered to the different fan groups that were present, from the day ones to the late comers. He even delivered some extra throwback fire for the older fans too. He picked the right collaborations in A Pass, IzabelUG, BigTril, Mun G and Maurice Kirya. We were not left wanting. And for any little thing that didn’t go according to plan, I just got more excited, because it just showed that there is still room to grow, and we can only trust that he will step right in and through that room.

Keep streaming JUVIE Here

If you’re a cultural or creative entrepreneur in Kampala looking to take your business to the next level, here’s a game-changing opportunity worth paying attention to. Africalia, in partnership with The Bold Woman Fund, has launched a new business incubation programme dubbed Koola Kampala, designed specifically to support and elevate Kampala’s creative and cultural sector.

Koola Kampala is a 12-month business support programme for legally registered creative businesses that are already generating revenue. It aims to build stronger, more sustainable enterprises by equipping entrepreneurs with the tools, mentorship, and strategic guidance they need to thrive in Uganda’s rapidly growing creative economy. Whether you’re running a music label, fashion brand, media studio, design outfit, or cultural enterprise, this programme is tailored to strengthen the business side of your creativity.

This initiative is funded by Africalia and aligns with the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the Sustainable Development Goals, and national cultural development policies. It seeks to invest in the people driving Uganda’s creative heartbeat, young innovators building impactful businesses at the intersection of culture, identity, and entrepreneurship.

To be eligible, you must be over the age of 18, based in Kampala, and running a legally registered cultural or creative business that has been active for at least one year. Your business must already be generating revenue and able to provide samples of work when requested. More importantly, applicants should demonstrate a strong motivation to strengthen their business management and growth strategies.

Photo supplied by Skyline Media.

The programme is structured in four key phases. First is the selection phase, during which 15–20 promising businesses will be shortlisted based on eligibility, motivation, and programme fit. This is followed by a 3-month pre-incubation phase, where selected participants will undergo a diagnostic assessment of their businesses, receive both group and individual coaching, and be trained on key business fundamentals. At the end of this phase, 12 businesses will be selected to move forward into the main incubation phase, which spans 9 months of intensive training, weekly one-on-one coaching, strategic growth support, and specialised modules tailored to the needs of each participant.

Once the incubation phase concludes, the programme enters its final phase—post-incubation—where participants will walk away with a tailored action plan for their business, deeper entrepreneurial skills, refined business models, and access to both national and international expert support. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to apply for seed funding to support the implementation of their business plans.

Applications are now open and will close on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at 6 PM (Kampala time). Interested entrepreneurs can apply through the online form available here. For further questions, Africalia and The Bold Woman Fund can be reached via africalia@africalia.be or contact@boldinafrica.com up until June 29.

For Kampala’s creatives, this isn’t just another programme—it’s a doorway to long-term growth, sustainability, and impact. If you’re ready to build a business that lasts and contributes meaningfully to Uganda’s creative ecosystem, Koola Kampala is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.