Baraka Issabu is a Tanzanian pianist, music educator, composer, arranger, and producer based in Helsinki, Finland. Rooted in East African musical traditions, his work blends traditional rhythms and melodic language with Afrojazz, afro-fusion, and jazz, with the piano as his core storytelling instrument. Through his involvement with the East Africa Global Music Campus (Tanzania), Baraka has deepened his practice in documenting, performing, and transmitting regional music cultures.

In 2023, he moved to Finland to pursue his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in the Global Music Programme at the Sibelius Academy, expanding his artistic horizons through rigorous study and intercultural collaboration. While in Finland, Baraka managed to form a quintet that brings together Finnish and Tanzanian musicians—schoolmates who connected through their studies—creating a dynamic ensemble shaped by shared learning and
cross-cultural exchange.

Baraka Issabu – piano/keys, vocals
Humphrey Mubba – bass guitar, vocals
Vilho Luohivuori – drums
Joni Vierre – guitar
Jesse Vilhomaa – saxophone