Juma Mussa Mkambala (born September 1, 1989), known professionally by his stage name Jux, is a Tanzanian artist and songwriter.[1]

Jux
Birth nameJuma Mussa mkambala
Also known asAfrican Boy
Born (1989-09-01) 1 September 1989 (age 35)
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
OriginSingida Region
GenresBongo FlavaAfropopR&B
Occupation(s)Musician, singer, songwriter
InstrumentVocals
Years active2011 –present
LabelsAfrican Boy
PartnerPriscilla Ojo

Jux's music is a blend of RnB, Bongo Flava, and Afrobeats. His most popular songs were specifically well received in Tanzania and South Africa: "Enjoy", "NitasubirI", "Fashion Killer", "Sugua", "Juu", and "Nidhibiti".[2]

Since his debut, Jux has collaborated with Diamond Platnumz, Vanessa Mdee, Joh Makini, Zuchu, Gyakie, Bien, Marioo, and others.

Early life

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Born in Dar es Salaam, Jux's interest in music began when he started to rap at the age of 16 to his friends and colleagues.[3]

In 2008, when Jux signed to Tanzanian record label A.M Records, he began to record R&B songs instead.

Since then, he has released several hit songs, including "Sugua" featuring Diamond Platnumz, "Juu" featuring Vanessa Mdee, and "Regina" featuring Otile Brown.

In 2015, he received an award for 'Best R&B Song' at Kili Music Awards, also known as the National Tanzania Music Awards. In 2017, he received an award for the Best East African Music Video at the Zanzibar International Film Festival.[4]

In 2018 and 2019, Jux was nominated for 'Best Male East Africa' at the AFRIMMA awards.[5][6] He also performed on Coke Studio Africa in 2019.[7]

In 2018, his song "Uzuri Wako" (translation: Your Goodness) was banned by the Tanzanian Communications Regulatory Authority, along with songs from several other artists, including Diamond Platnumz. The regulatory authority described the songs as "immoral", in contravention of the Advertising Services (Content) Regulations 2005.[8]

After numerous singles, Jux released his first album The Love Album in 2019, featuring tracks from several artists including Nigerian artist Singah, Diamond Platnumz, Nyashinski, Vanessa Mdee, G Nako, and Joh Makini.[9]

Jux released his sophomore album titled King Of Hearts in November 2022 featuring collaborations with Zuchu, Marioo, Mbosso, Terri, and Bien.[10]

In 2023, Jux made headlines in Tanzania after releasing his second collaboration with Tanzania's leading singer, Diamond Platnumz titled "Enjoy".[11] The song, which is a blend of Bongo Flava and Amapiano, was welcomed with mixed reviews as critics noted the song's resemblance to Spyro's "Who Is Your Guy". The song was later taken down from YouTube after Congolese singer Sapologuano Odenumz claimed copyright infringement.[12][13][14]

Personal life

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Jux's six-year relationship with fellow Tanzanian artist Vanessa Mdee was widely publicized. During this time, they toured together across the region and released several singles.

In 2018, they embarked on the 'In Love with Money' tour, which remains to date one of theof the Tanzanian's biggest independent tours. The relationship however, came to an end in 2019 shortly after allegations of infidelity began to circulate following the posting of pictures of Vanessa Mdee hugging the American R&B artist Trey Songz.[15][16]

Jux has since been linked to several socialites including Karen Bujulu, a high-profile socialite whom he confirmed he was dating in February 2023.[17]

In August 2024, Jux became engaged to Priscilla Ojo.[18][19]

The African Boy Brand

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Jux also has an interest in fashion, and established his brand in 2018, for which he curates and designs. The brand is widely available across East Africa, in part due to a production deal he signed in 2019.[20] He later announced that he would be expanding his brand into Kenya over the course of the coming year.[21]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2015[22] Tanzania Music Awards Best R&B Song Nitasubiri Won
Best Artist Jux Nominated
2017[23] Zanzibar International Film Festival Best East African Music Video Utaniua Won
2018[24][25] Tanzania Music Awards Best East African Artist Jux Nominated
2019[26] Tanzania Music Awards Best East African Artist Jux Nominated

Discography

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Albums

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Jux released his debut studio album 'The Love Album' in 2019, consisting of a total of 18 songs. To date the album has received more than 1.3 million streams on Boomplay, making it one of the most streamed East African R&B albums up to date.[27] The album's lead single 'Sugua' was a hit, amassing more than 10 million views on YouTube. The album was distributed by Africori the largest digital music distribution company in Sub-Saharan Africa, a partner of Warner Music Group[28]

In 2022, Jux released his sophomore album titled King Of Hearts, the album has 16 songs featuring some of the biggest in the African music industry such as Bien, Patoranking, Mbosso, Gyakie, Konshens, Zuchu, and more. [29]

Year Title Album
2019 "Zaidi" The Love Album
"Unaniweza"
"Wambela"(feat. Ruby)
"Upofu"
"In Case You Don't Know"(feat. Nyashinski)
"Sugarcane"(feat. Gnako & Tommy Flavour)
"Slowly"
"Sumaku"(feat. Vannessa Mdee)
"Sio Mbaya"
"Bado Yupo"
"Kibindoni"
"Sugua"(feat. Diamond Platnumz)
"Fashion Killer"(feat. Singah)
"Yeye"
"Now You Know"(feat. Q-Chief)
"Tell Me"(feat. Joh Makini)
"Umenibamba"

Singles and collaborations

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2015 "Nitasubiri'"
"Nikuite Nani"
"Looking for You" (feat. Joh Makini)
"One More Night"
"Jux Sisikii"
2016 "Wivu"
"Juu"- Vanessa Mdee (feat. Jux)
2017 "Utaniua"
"Umenikamata"
2018 "Fimbo"
"Tell Me " (feat. Joh Makini)
"Hatufanani"- Shetta (feat. Jux)
"Zaidi"
"Regina"- Otile Brown (feat. Jux)
2019 "Covid 19" (feat. Maua Sama)
"Leo"- Darassa (feat. Jux)
"Juju"- Darassa (feat. Jux)
2023 Enjoy feat. Diamond Platnumz
2024 ololufe mi feat. Diamond Platnumz

References

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  1. ^ "Music in Jux". Musicinafrica.net. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  2. ^ "JUX Biography; Life, Love, Career, Net Worth ⚜ Latest music news online". mdundo.com. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  3. ^ "The top 10 richest Tanzania musicians and their net worth in 2020". Tuko.co.ke. 26 December 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Coca Cola- Jux". Coca Cola Studio. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  5. ^ BellaNaija.com (25 July 2018). "AFRIMMA 2018: See Full List Of Nominees". BellaNaija. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Latest - Nominees And Winners Of The 2019 AFRIMMA Awards". 29 October 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  7. ^ Juma Jux: Pai Grande - Coke Studio Africa Cover, retrieved 28 January 2024
  8. ^ "TCRA: Songs by Diamond Platnumz, Wa Mitego, Jux and other musicians are banned by the Tanzanian government". BBC. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Juma Jux pours his heart out in album". The Star. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Jux Finally Drop His 'King Of Hearts' Album | Notjustok East Africa". Latest East African & Bongo Flava Music, Songs & Video - Notjustok. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  11. ^ Robi, Amos (22 July 2023). "Diamond, Jux take over TikTok with 'Enjoy' & 9 other tunes released this week". Pulselive Kenya. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  12. ^ Nzyoka, Nzula (17 August 2023). "Diamond faces new copyright claim for song "Enjoy" featuring Jux". KBC. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Reason as to why Juma Jux's song 'enjoy' ft Diamond has been pulled down from YouTube". Kiss 100. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Youtube removes Diamond Platnumz's & Jux's 'Enjoy' amid copyright claim". Latest East African & Bongo Flava Music, Songs & Video - Notjustok. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  15. ^ "Vanessa Mdee and Juma Jux Finally Break up After Months of Denials". allafrica.com. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Was Vanessa Mdee dumbed because of Trey Songz?date=10 April 2018". standard media.com. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  17. ^ TZA, Edwin (7 February 2023). "Kwa mara ya kwanza Jux akiri kuwa penzini na mrembo huy, amtambulisha". Millard Ayo. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Who is Jux, Iyabo Ojo's daughter's Tanzanian lover?". pmnews.com. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  19. ^ Oladokun, Itoro (3 September 2024). "Priscilla Ojo Set to Wed Tanzanian Lover, Mercy Aigbe Confirms". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  20. ^ "Jux:Rise of The African Boy". Coca Cola. 5 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Tanzania fashion Icon targets Kenyan market with Vunja Bei stores". Nairobinews. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ "Nominees wa Kilimanjaro Music Awards 2015". EATV. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  23. ^ "Coca Cola- Jux". Coca Cola Studio. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  24. ^ "AFRIMMA releases 2018 nominees". Southern times africa. 27 July 2018. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  25. ^ "Complete List Of Nominees For AFRIMMA 2018". The Guardian. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  26. ^ "AFRIMMA 2019: Here's The Complete List Of Nominees". The Guardian. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  27. ^ "Jux hits 1 Million streams on Boomplay". Standardmedia. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  28. ^ "WARNER INVESTS IN AFRICA-BASED MUSIC DISTRIBUTOR AFRICORI, LAUNCHING GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WITH ADA". Music Business Worldwide. 20 April 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  29. ^ "Jux Finally Drop His 'King Of Hearts' Album | Notjustok East Africa". Latest East African & Bongo Flava Music, Songs & Video - Notjustok. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2024.