For those who have spent years in the Tanzanian music scene, it’s no secret that one of the hardest things for any person to pull off, is a proper artistic rebrand. Yet, through his latest project titled Afro Jungle, Mr Joel Joseph, formerly known as Mr Puaz and former manager of Tanzanian heavyweights including Harmonize, has proven that rebranding is not only possible, but it can also be done with style.
When Mr Puaz stepped away from managing Harmonize in 2019, the Tanzanian music industry was left in shock. Media outlets, including the BBC, covered the split, while many industry insiders wondered how the music scene would move forward as one of its key warriors left the battle.
Unlike most managers who might have thrown shade or stirred up drama around their artists, Mr Puaz took a different path. For about five years since leaving his role as a manager at what is often described as Tanzania’s leading music label, Joel quietly laid the groundwork for his next move.
Having an in-depth knowledge of the Tanzanian music industry, instead of letting another artist ride on his expertise, he decided to step into the spotlight himself, reintroducing himself as an artist under his own name, Joel Joseph.
Joel’s deep knowledge of the Tanzanian music industry shines through from the very first track on the EP, titled Mash Mash, an upbeat yet soulful song that tells listeners to shake off their stress and hit the dance floor with pure joy.
