Kenyan-American music creative Lovince Mckenzie has released his latest single, "Locked In." The release features Ugandan artist Joshua Baraka alongside Nigerian vocalist Ayo Maff.

The collaboration arrives ahead of Mckenzie’s forthcoming EP, titled Dance and Soul. It connects distinct music markets across East and West Africa into a single project.

A Cross-Border Collaboration

Born and raised in Kenya before relocating to the United States, Mckenzie has spent several years building his catalogue. His work integrates music, fashion, and film.

Read Also
Munyao’s Tokyo record inspires him for Valencia swift charge Sports
Muyoti banks on Leopards knowledge to plot Ingwe downfall Football
Adhiambo set for Lionesses return in Africa Sevens redemption bid Rugby
Lovince Mckenzie teams up with Joshua Baraka and Ayo Maff
His catalogue includes early releases such as "Feel Your Vibe" and "Down", followed by singles including "Lover", "I Know You Know", "Home", "Vigelegele", and "My Heart."

His 2026 track "On My Way" signalled a move towards Afro-house and electronic dance production.

"African music does not have to be confined by borders,” he says.

Mckenzie's primary international breakthrough occurred in 2024 with "Light Up", a joint track with Lagos-born artist Ayo Maff. The record showed how East and West African musicians could build commercial success together across regional borders.

Performance Statistics

Streaming metrics highlight the digital reach of the artists across platforms:

  • "Light Up" (Lovince Mckenzie & Ayo Maff): Recorded millions of plays on Spotify and tens of millions of user video views on TikTok.
  • "On My Way" (Lovince Mckenzie): Reached over 530,000 views on YouTube within two months of its release.
  • "Nana" (Joshua Baraka): Accumulated over 5.4 million YouTube views on its official video and earned three nominations at the 2023 African Muzik Magazine Awards.

Joining Forces with Uganda's Joshua Baraka

Bringing Joshua Baraka into "Locked In" expands the East African footprint of Mckenzie's recent work.

Baraka was born in Kampala in 2000 and grew up singing in church choirs.

Lovince Mckenzie teams up with Joshua Baraka and Ayo Maff

He taught himself piano, guitar, and drums during his youth before releasing his debut EP Baby Steps in 2021.

"‘Nana’ went way beyond my expectations,” he revealed.

Following his 2022 EP Watershed, Baraka achieved widespread African recognition with his 2023 single "Nana". The track led to an official remix featuring Joeboy, Bien of Sauti Sol, and King Promise. He has since released the EP Growing Pains and his 2025 album Juvie.

Nigerian artist Ayo Maff previously teamed up with Mckenzie on "Light Up.” His involvement in "Locked In" completes a tri-country partnership linking Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria.

Building Towards 'Dance and Soul'

The new single "Locked In" links three major music hubs: Nairobi, Kampala, and Lagos.

The song serves as a lead single for Dance and Soul, an EP exploring themes of movement, vulnerability, identity, and freedom. For Mckenzie, the project reflects a long-term goal to bring East African roots to international dancefloors.

Lovince Mckenzie teams up with Joshua Baraka and Ayo Maff
"An artist can travel the world without losing the place that shaped him."

With Dance and Soul scheduled for release, "Locked In" marks another step in Mckenzie's ongoing cross-border musical direction.