Vijana Barubaru open up about years of battling imposter syndrome

Music duo Vijana Barubaru, made up of Tuku Kantu and Mshairi Spikes, known for their romantic songs, have opened up about their long, private struggle with imposter syndrome, a battle they say has shaped how they respond to success, fame, and public recognition.

According to the British Medical Association, imposter syndrome is described as a feeling of inadequacy that persists despite evidence of success. This sensation of chronic self-doubt can feel both undermining and isolating, with individuals describing sensations of fraudulence, which, over a prolonged period, can act as a significant contributor to burnout.

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Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, the duo revealed that their upbringing and lack of early exposure to success made it difficult for them to understand or embrace achievements when they eventually came.

They noted that coming from humble backgrounds meant they rarely saw people around them winning, which later created internal conflict when their careers began to take off.

“You grow up seeing struggle and not victory, so when success finally comes, it feels unreal,” Tuku said.

The weight of success

They shared that imposter syndrome made success feel unfamiliar and even frightening. Instead of celebrating milestones, they often found themselves retreating to what felt “safe”, the environments they grew up in, where success was rare.

Mshairi added, “Even when the numbers say we’re winning, our minds don’t always follow. It’s hard to truly own your achievements.”

The musicians explained that despite landing major hits like Sasa Hivi and Nakupenda, both now above 10 million views, they struggle to acknowledge these wins openly.

They shared a light moment, recalling how they once promised to celebrate when Sasa Hivi reached 1 million views. The song crossed the milestone, but they never celebrated. They then pushed the goal to 10 million, but again, they did nothing.

Guilt and growth

They added that the same pattern followed when Nakupenda hit 5 million views. The track now sits at 19 million, yet the duo has not held a single celebration for its success.

The artists admitted that they often feel guilty celebrating themselves, worrying that they do not deserve the success or that people would interpret it as showing off.

They emphasised that they stopped calling themselves “upcoming artists” only because the industry forced them to drop the label, not because they felt fully established.

They narrated instances where they were invited to events and directed to sit in sections reserved for upcoming talent, despite having multiple viral hits. They said this reinforced their fear that they might not belong at the top, even when the numbers said otherwise.

Tuku reflected, “It takes years to unlearn feeling like you’re not supposed to be here, even when you clearly are.”

Embracing achievements

The duo revealed that even when they bought a car, they postponed posting it online for over a year, worried that people might view it as flaunting. They said growing up poor shapes such reactions, noting that the biggest fear is achieving something and then losing it, a fear rooted deeply in their background.

Despite these struggles, the duo said they are slowly learning to embrace success and allow themselves to grow without guilt, hoping their journey inspires other young artists facing the same silent battles.

“It’s a constant battle in your mind, but every time we achieve something, we try to remind ourselves that we’ve earned it,” Tuku said.