VIJANA BARUBARU PART WAYS

Kenyan music duo Vijana Barubaru have announced that they are stepping away from their joint music career as the two members pursue separate creative paths.

The Nairobi-based duo, comprising singer Tuku Kantu and rapper and spoken-word artist Mwana Wa Wambui, made the announcement on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, through a joint statement shared on social media.

Rather than describing the move as a permanent breakup, the two artists presented it as a hiatus — a period that will allow each of them to concentrate on their individual musical ambitions.

“Today, we want to share that we are entering a new season of our music careers,” they told their fans.

According to the duo, their decision follows years of growth both as musicians and as individuals, creating a desire to discover what they can achieve independently.

“As artists and as individuals, we have both continued to grow, and out of the desire to further explore our creative journeys, we have decided to go on a hiatus to focus on our solo careers,” they said.

For Tuku Kantu and Mwana Wa Wambui, the break is less about walking away from each other and more about creating room for individual expression.

“This is about self-discovery,” they said, adding that they want to explore their creative voices, discover new parts of themselves and see what more they can become as artists.

The duo were also keen to separate their professional decision from their personal relationship, stressing that the years they spent building Vijana Barubaru created a bond that remains important to both of them.

“Vijana Barubaru has given us a foundation, history, and brotherhood,” they said.

They thanked their supporters for helping them build the career they have today, acknowledging that their journey would not have been possible without the backing of their fans.

“None of what we have achieved would have been possible without the love and support you have given us,” they said.

The announcement has left some fans wondering whether the hiatus will eventually result in a reunion or become a permanent separation. For now, however, the musicians have not described it as the end of Vijana Barubaru.

Vijana Barubaru developed a distinctive identity by bringing together Tuku Kantu's melodic vocals and Mwana Wa Wambui's rap and spoken-word style.

Their music blended Afropop and Afro-soul with soulful harmonies and Swahili storytelling, frequently exploring romance, heartbreak, friendship, ambition and experiences associated with life in Nairobi.

The duo's breakthrough came with “Sasa Hivi”, featuring Gogo Ashley. The song gained considerable attention after being pushed on TikTok, introducing the pair's romantic sound to a much wider audience.

They followed that success with “Nakupenda,” again featuring Gogo Ashley, further establishing their reputation for love-themed music.

Other releases expanded their musical range, including “Ni Sawa” featuring Steph Kapela, “Kifo Cha Mende,” “Amen” featuring Cedo and “Ghetto Dala” featuring Toxic Lyrikali.

Their collaborations also brought together different generations and styles of Kenyan artists. Their later work included collaborations with artists such as Okello Max, Sanaipei Tande, Watendawili and Davy Waweru.

The duo's projects included the PROVEN EP and Passionate Pages EP, while their later collaborations continued to explore relationships as well as the realities of struggle, survival and ambition.

Their rise was also marked by notable industry achievements.
Vijana Barubaru became the first Kenyan artists to receive official streaming plaques from ONErpm, earning Gold recognition for “Sasa Hivi” and “Nakupenda.”

Their songs “Ni Sawa” and “Romantic Call” also earned Silver plaques.

The duo additionally received recognition at the Pulse Music Video Awards, where they won the Best Breakthrough Video of the Year award.

For an act that built its reputation around an unconventional pairing of singing and spoken-word performance, the achievements represented a significant run in the Kenyan music scene.

News of the hiatus quickly sparked an emotional reaction among their listeners, with fans reflecting on the songs that had become associated with the duo's journey.

The announcement itself carried a celebratory tone, with the duo describing the moment as a new beginning rather than simply an ending.

Their message to fans was equally forward-looking as they invited them to witness the next stage of their individual careers.

“In the same spirit, we invite you to experience what those same voices will become in this next chapter we are ushering in,” they said.

The future of Vijana Barubaru as a joint act remains uncertain. But with both artists now preparing to explore their identities outside the duo, the announcement closes one chapter of their story while opening another.

For their fans, it is a chance to hear what Tuku Kantu and Mwana Wa Wambui sound like when each gets to tell his own story.