It All Starts In Here
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About Me
Baraka Paul Issabu is a Tanzanian pianist, music educator, composer, arranger and producer based in Helsinki, Finland. With a musical voice shaped by East African traditions and a deep love for rhythm, Baraka brings together heritage and innovation, weaving regional grooves and melodic phrasing into contemporary soundscapes influenced by Afrojazz, Afro-fusion, and Jazz. At the heart of his artistry is the piano, which he approaches not only as a harmonic instrument but also as a powerful narrator capable of carrying culture, memory, and emotion.
Committed to both performance and cultural preservation, Baraka has been involved with the East Africa Global Music Campus in Tanzania, where his artistic practice has grown through documenting, performing, and transmitting regional music cultures. This grounding in community-based knowledge and lived tradition continues to inform his composition, arranging and production work.Â
In 2023, Baraka took a major step in his international journey by enrolling in the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in the Global Music Programme at Sibelius Academy in Helsinki—an experience that has broadened his creative palette and strengthened his work across genres and ensembles.Â
Baraka’s talent and versatility have led him to collaborate and perform with a wide range of Tanzanian and international artists. He has appeared at notable platforms and festivals including the Jahazi Literary & Jazz Festival, Sauti za Busara, the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), Etno-Espa(Finland), Global Club Nights at Caisa Cultural Centre (Helsinki) and Vuotalo (Helsinki), Global Festival and Spring Festival (Sibelius Academy Global Music Programme, Helsinki), contributing to and helping shape the vibrant contemporary music scene connected to Tanzania and the wider region. Â
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Professional Experience
Bands & Groups
As a band leader, Baraka Issabu shapes ensembles around rhythm, storytelling, and a strong East African foundation, creating space where every musician contributes to a shared groove and direction. Through the Baraka Issabu Quintet, he brings together Tanzanian and Finnish artists to translate regional song forms and interlocking patterns into Afro-jazz/afro-fusion arrangements enriched by jazz harmony and improvisation.
His leadership balances clear musical vision with collaborative openness—guiding rehearsals, arranging parts, and curating repertoire while leaving room for spontaneity on stage. Beyond the stage, his co-founding work with Action Music Tanzania/Academy and his community projects in Helsinki show his commitment to building supportive ecosystems where group music-making, mentorship, and cultural identity grow together.
Witiri Duo
Baraka Issabu Quintet
Solo Performance
As a solo performer, Baraka Issabu delivers piano-led storytelling that blends East African rhythmic languages and melodic phrasing with Afrojazz, Afro-fusion, and jazz improvisation.
He approaches the piano not only as a harmonic instrument but as a narrator shaping groove, memory, and emotion into dynamic live interpretations, often drawing on interlocking rhythmic concepts and a strong sense of pulse. His released project African Child captures this solo voice clearly: rooted in heritage, contemporary in sound, and driven by rhythm, spontaneity, and expressive melodic lines.
- Afro Jazz
- Afro Fusion
- Gospel
- Jazz Fusion
Awards Through The Years
Prestige Award
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Carrer Awards
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Next Tours
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