Freed Mushaga

Freed Mushaga is a singer-songwriter, paralegal and dynamic African soul/pop artist born in Bukavu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Rooted in the storytelling traditions of African griots, his music channels the spirit of Angélique Kidjo, the innovation of Michael Jackson and the finesse of Lokua Kanza. Deeply influenced by Congolese legends and global icons like Miriam Makeba, Youssou N’Dour and Jonathan Butler, he weaves soul, African pop, jazz, folk and Afrobeat into an organic sound charged with emotion, social relevance and theatrical flair.
Since his professional debut in 2020, Freed has transformed the personal and collective struggles of his conflict-marked homeland into songs of resilience, love, unity and justice. His warm, suave voice and scenic energy have lit stages from the Institut Français of Bukavu and Kinshasa’s Halle de la Gombe to Sofar Sounds and Alliance Française Kampala’s Akatuuti. He has also headlined festivals such as Afrozilla, Kalabash, Marahaba and the Tribe Brewed Sessions, and shared Carnivore Kenya’s bill with Brian Sigu and Costar Ojwang, as well as appearing at The Mist and UMP Festival – Evolution.
On May 9, Freed released his debut EP, JE SUIS, a poetic, mischievous collection born in Bukavu’s turbulent heart. Seamlessly blending soul, jazz, folk and Afrobeats, the four-track project stands as a vibrant declaration of love and revolt in a dysfunctional world, exploring themes of identity, resilience, childhood innocence and the unrelenting power of love. Fresh from an international media tour—landing interviews on RFI, BBC, The Monitor, Actualité.Cd and Royal FM—JE SUIS has been traversing Africa since late May. After electrifying audiences across East Africa and earning slots at Milege Festival and The Music Imbizo 2025, the EP now heads southward, promising new collaborations and fresh encounters.
Freed’s commitment to his community extends beyond performance. In 2022, his regional project JUA earned the Music In Africa Live grant, and his single “COME NOW” was named a finalist in Nigeria’s #SixtyPercentOfUs challenge. That same year he was recognized among South Kivu’s Top 100 Most Influential Personalities, cementing his role as an artistic and civic leader. He serves as director of JUA – World Music Meeting, leading workshops, masterclasses and cross-border cultural initiatives that elevate African unity through music.
A proud member of the East African Records collective and the global Beyond Music network, Freed was spotlighted as MCM by Anyiko Public Relations and featured by Afrikaloud (Kenya) in April 2025 for shaping modern Africa’s sound. Validated by endorsements from Lokua Kanza and Gérald Toto, he continues to unite listeners from Kigali and Bujumbura to Kampala and Nairobi, transforming chaos into harmony and songs into healing as he builds toward his next chapter on the continent and beyond.