Jux
{{short description|Tanzanian artist and songwriter}}
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{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Jux
| image =
| image_upright =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| birth_name = Juma Mussa Mkambala
| alias = African Boy
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|09|1|df=y}}
| birth_place = Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| origin = Singida Region
| death_date =
| death_place =
| genre = Bongo Flava
Afropop
R&B
| occupation = Singer, Songwriter
| instrument = Vocals
| years_active = 2011 –present
| label = African Boy
| spouse = {{married|Priscilla Ojo|2025}}
| website =
}}
Juma Mussa Mkambala (born 1 September 1989), known professionally by his stage name Jux, is a Tanzanian superstar singer and songwriter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/directory/jux|title=Music in Jux|date=4 June 2015|access-date=10 January 2021|website=Musicinafrica.net}} His music is a blend of RnB, Bongo Flava, and Afrobeats. His songs include: Enjoy, NitasubirI, Fashion Killer, Sugua, Juu, and Nidhibiti. Jux has collaborated with African musicians, among them, Diamond Platnumz, Vanessa Mdee, Joh Makini, Zuchu, Gyakie, Bien, and Marioo.
Early life
Jux was born on 1 September 1989 in Dar es Salaam.
Career
Jux's interest in music began when he started to rap at the age of 16 to his friends and colleagues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tuko.co.ke/391651-the-top-10-richest-tanzania-musicians-net-worth-2020.html|title=The top 10 richest Tanzania musicians and their net worth in 2020|date=26 December 2020|access-date=10 January 2021|website=Tuko.co.ke}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Akinde |first=Umani |date=25 April 2025 |title=Jux Become the top trending artist in Nigerian |url=https://www.naijapickup.com/mp3-music/artistes/jux/ |access-date=25 April 2025 |website=Gisttalk Studio}}
In 2018 and 2019, Jux was nominated for 'Best Male East Africa' at the AFRIMMA awards.{{Cite web |last=BellaNaija.com |date=2018-07-25 |title=AFRIMMA 2018: See Full List Of Nominees |url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2018/07/afrimma-2018-see-full-list-nominees/ |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=BellaNaija |language=en-US}} He also performed on Coke Studio Africa in 2019.{{Citation |title=Juma Jux: Pai Grande - Coke Studio Africa Cover | date=23 March 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdWmbZXo6OU |access-date=2024-01-28 |language=en}}
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.{{Cite web |date=28 February 2018 |title=TCRA: Songs by Diamond Platnumz, Wa Mitego, Jux and other musicians are banned by the Tanzanian government |url=https://www.bbc.com/swahili/habari-43230718 |access-date=10 January 2021 |website=BBC}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Juma Jux pours his heart out in album |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/sasa/word-is/2019-11-05-juma-jux-pours-his-heart-out-in-album/ |access-date=2023-09-03 |website=The Star |language=en-KE}}
Jux released his sophomore album titled King Of Hearts in November 2022 featuring collaborations with Zuchu, Marioo, Mbosso, Terri, and Bien.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-24 |title=Jux Finally Drop His 'King Of Hearts' Album {{!}} Notjustok East Africa |url=https://notjustok.com/eastafrica/albums/jux-drops-king-of-hearts-album/ |access-date=2023-09-03 |website=Latest East African & Bongo Flava Music, Songs & Video - Notjustok |language=en-US}}
In 2023, Jux made headlines in Tanzania after releasing his second collaboration with Tanzania's leading singer, Diamond Platnumz titled "Enjoy".{{Cite web |last=Robi |first=Amos |date=2023-07-22 |title=Diamond, Jux take over TikTok with 'Enjoy' & 9 other tunes released this week |url=https://www.pulselive.co.ke/entertainment/music/diamond-jux-take-over-tiktok-with-enjoy-and-9-other-tunes-released-this-week/2cykb1b |access-date=2023-09-03 |website=Pulselive Kenya |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Nzyoka |first=Nzula |date=2023-08-17 |title=Diamond faces new copyright claim for song "Enjoy" featuring Jux |url=https://www.kbc.co.ke/diamond-faces-new-copyright-claim-for-song-enjoy-featuring-jux/ |access-date=2023-09-03 |website=KBC |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Reason as to why Juma Jux's song 'enjoy' ft Diamond has been pulled down from YouTube |url=https://kiss100.co.ke/entertainment/2023-08-17-reason-as-to-why-diamond-juma-juxs-song-enjoy-has-been-pulled-down-from-youtube/ |access-date=2023-09-03 |website=Kiss 100 |language=en-KE}}{{Cite web |date=2023-08-17 |title=Youtube removes Diamond Platnumz's & Jux's 'Enjoy' amid copyright claim |url=https://notjustok.com/eastafrica/news/youtube-removes-diamond-platnumzs-juxs-enjoyamid-copyright-claims/ |access-date=2023-09-03 |website=Latest East African & Bongo Flava Music, Songs & Video - Notjustok |language=en-US}}
Personal life
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 as one of 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.{{cite web|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201905160643.html|title= Vanessa Mdee and Juma Jux Finally Break up After Months of Denials|date=16 May 2019|access-date=10 January 2021|website=allafrica.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/showbiz/20001247453/was-vanessa-mdee-dumbed-because-of-trey-songz|title=Was Vanessa Mdee dumbed because of Trey Songz?date=10 April 2018|access-date=10 January 2021|website=standard media.com}}
Jux has since been linked to several socialites including Karen Bujulu, a high-profile socialite whom he confirmed he was dating in February 2023.{{Cite web |last=TZA |first=Edwin |date=2023-02-07 |title=Kwa mara ya kwanza Jux akiri kuwa penzini na mrembo huy, amtambulisha |url=https://millardayo.com/kwa-mara-ya-kwanza-jux-akiri-kuwa-penzini-na-mrembo-huy-amtambulisha/ |access-date=2023-09-03 |website=Millard Ayo |language=en-US}}
In August 2024, Jux became engaged to Priscilla Ojo.{{cite web|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/music/730426-who-is-jux-iyabo-ojos-daughters-tanzanian-lover.html|title=Who is Jux, Iyabo Ojo's daughter's Tanzanian lover? |date=2 September 2024|access-date=2 September 2024|website=pmnews.com}}
In April 2025, Jux tied the knot with Priscilla Ojo.
The African Boy Brand
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.{{cite web|url=http://et.coca-cola.com/cokestudio/blog/top-stories/jux/|title=Jux:Rise of The African Boy|date=5 January 2019|access-date=10 January 2021|website=Coca Cola}} He later announced that he would be expanding his brand into Kenya over the course of the coming year.{{cite web |date=22 December 2020 |title=Tanzania fashion Icon targets Kenyan market with Vunja Bei stores |url=https://nairobinews.nation.africa/tanzanian-fashion-icon-targets-kenyan-market-with-vunja-bei-stores/ |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=7 November 2024 |website=Nairobinews}}
Awards and nominations
Discography
=Albums=
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/news/2001382367/khaligraph-feted-for-half-a-million-album-streams|title=Jux hits 1 Million streams on Boomplay|date=16 September 2020|access-date=10 January 2021|website=Standardmedia}} The album's lead single 'Sugua' was a hit, amassing more than 10 million views on YouTube. The album was distributed by [https://africori.com/ Africori] the largest digital music distribution company in Sub-Saharan Africa, a partner of Warner Music Group{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/warner-invests-in-africa-based-music-distributor-africori-launching-global-partnership-with-ada/|title=WARNER INVESTS IN AFRICA-BASED MUSIC DISTRIBUTOR AFRICORI, LAUNCHING GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WITH ADA|date=20 April 2020|access-date=10 January 2021|website=Music Business Worldwide}}
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. {{Cite web |date=2022-11-24 |title=Jux Finally Drop His 'King Of Hearts' Album {{!}} Notjustok East Africa |url=https://notjustok.com/eastafrica/albums/jux-drops-king-of-hearts-album/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=Latest East African & Bongo Flava Music, Songs & Video - Notjustok |language=en-US}}
class="wikitable sortable" |
Year
!Title !Album |
---|
rowspan="17" |2019
|"Zaidi" | rowspan="17" |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 =
class="wikitable sortable" |
rowspan="5" |2015
|"Nitasubiri'" | |
"Nikuite Nani"
| |
"Looking for You" (feat. Joh Makini)
| |
"One More Night"
| |
"Jux Sisikii"
| |
rowspan="2" |2016
|"Wivu" | |
"Juu"- Vanessa Mdee (feat. Jux)
| |
rowspan="2" |2017
|"Utaniua" | |
"Umenikamata"
| |
rowspan="4" |2018
|"Fimbo" | |
"Tell Me " (feat. Joh Makini)
| |
"Hatufanani"- Shetta (feat. Jux)
| |
"Zaidi" |
"Regina"- Otile Brown (feat. Jux)
| |
rowspan="3" |2019
|"Covid 19" (feat. Maua Sama) | |
"Leo"- Darassa (feat. Jux)
| |
"Juju"- Darassa (feat. Jux)
| |
rowspan="1" |2023
|Enjoy feat. Diamond Platnumz |
2024
|ololufe mi feat. Diamond Platnumz |
2025
|"Si Mimi" |
|God Design feat. Phyno |