The music of Kenya is very diverse, with multiple types of folk music based on the variety over 50 regional languages.
Jean-Bosco Mwenda, also known as Mwenda wa Bayeke, was a pioneer of Congolese fingerstyle acoustic guitar music. He was also popular in other African countries, particularly in East Africa, and in the late 1950s and early 1960s was briefly based in Nairobi, Kenya, where he had a regular radio show and became a profound influence on a generation of Kenyan guitarists.
Soukous is a genre of dance music originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. It derived from Congolese rumba in the 1960s, with faster dance rhythms and bright, intricate guitar improvisation, and gained popularity in the 1980s in France. Although often used by journalists as a synonym for Congolese rumba, both the music and dance associated with soukous differ from more traditional rumba, especially in its higher tempo, song structures and longer dance sequences.
Benga is a genre of Kenyan popular music. It evolved between the late 1940s and late 1960s, in Kenya's capital city of Nairobi. In the 1940s, the African Broadcasting Service in Nairobi aired a steady stream of soukous, South African kwela, Congolese finger-style guitar and various kinds of Cuban dance music that heavily influenced emergence of benga. There were also popular folk songs of Tanzania and Kenya's Luo peoples that formed the base on benga creation.
Judith Wambura Mbibo, known by her stage name Lady Jaydee also referred to as "Lady JayDee in town" or "Lady Jay Dee", is a Tanzanian singer. She specializes in the R&B, Zouk and Afro Pop genres. Lady Jaydee was voted Best Tanzanian Female R&B Artist in 2002, performed at the Kora All Africa Designers Competition, and was awarded "Best R&B Album" at the Tanzania Music Awards on 6 August 2004. In July 2005, she won an award for "best female video for South Africa". She was among the first females to sing R&B in Swahili. Lady Jaydee is signed to one of Africa's most successful music labels, Taurus Musik. She is also known as the Queen of Bongo Flava.
Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba, known professionally as Koffi Olomidé, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, producer, and founder of Quartier Latin International. Often referred to as the "King of Ndombolo", he is noted for his explosive high notes, deep baritone, and offbeat voice. Agbepa is considered one of the most significant figures in 20th-century Congolese and African popular music. His lyrics often explore themes of love, politics, technology, success, infidelity, religion, chicanery, and disillusionment. Through his music and stage performances, he introduced the slower style of soukous known as Tcha Tcho and popularized a flamboyant fashion subculture called La Sape, alongside Papa Wemba.
Marie-Claire Mboyo Moseka, known professionally as M'bilia Bel, is a Congolese rumba and soukous singer and songwriter. She is known as the "Queen of African Rumba". She rose to fame after first being discovered by Sam Manguana and later by Tabu Ley Rochereau who helped her gain confidence, master her powerful soprano voice, and achieve acclaim as one of the best Congolese female singers.
Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu, better known as Tabu Ley Rochereau, was a leading African rumba singer-songwriter from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was the leader of Orchestre Afrisa International, as well as one of Africa's most influential vocalists and prolific songwriters. Along with guitarist Dr Nico Kasanda, Tabu Ley pioneered soukous and internationalised his music by fusing elements of Congolese folk music with Cuban, Caribbean and Latin American rumba. He has been described as "the Congolese personality who, along with Mobutu, marked Africa's 20th century history." He was dubbed "the African Elvis" by the Los Angeles Times. After the fall of the Mobutu regime, Tabu Ley also pursued a political career. His musical career ran parallel to the other great Congolese rhumba bandleader and rival Franco Luambo Makiadi who ran the band TPOK Jazz throughout the 1960s, 1970s and '80s.
Joseph Athanase Tshamala Kabasele, popularly known as Le Grand Kallé, was a Congolese singer and bandleader, considered the father of modern Congolese music. He is best known for his role as leader of the band, Le Grand Kallé et l'African Jazz, in which capacity he was involved in a number of noted songs, including Indépendance Cha Cha.
Congolese rumba, also known as African rumba, is a dance music genre originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. With its rhythms, melodies, and lyrics, Congolese rumba has gained global recognition and remains an integral part of African music heritage. In December 2021, it was added to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage.
Juliana Kanyomozi is a musician actress and entertainer. She is a multiple award-winning Ugandan pop musician, an R&B and Afro Beat Singer well known among Western Uganda's decent musicians. Juliana was born on November 27, 1980, at Toro Fort Portal in Western Uganda of the Mutooro tribe. She is one of Western Uganda's descent among other musicians including Angella Katatumba, Allan Toniks and Ray G.
Zap Mama is a Belgian singer-songwriter, performer, composer, lyricist, activist, video artist and ethno-vocal therapist born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, raised in Belgium. Zap Mama sings polyphonic and afro-pop music, a harmonic music with a mixture of infused African vocal techniques, urban, hip hop with emphasis on voice. In order to explore and discover the vast world of oral tradition music. She travels throughout Africa, learning, exchanging and sharing information about healing songs, lullabies, mourning, and practising polyphony with griots (bards), Tartit tuareg women, Dogons, Peulhs, Pygmies, Mangbetus, Zulus and others.
P-Unit is a Kenyan hip hop group consisting of Kenyan hip hop artists Frasha, Gabu, and Bon-eye.
Mose Se Sengo was a guitarist, composer and band-leader from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was one of the pioneers of Congolese Soukous.
Carol Atemi Oyungu is a Kenyan singer, songwriter and entertainer. She first made her mark by being in a girl band Intu until 2007 when they each decided to go solo and work on individual projects. In 2003, she joined Eric Wainaina, as an assistant vocal harmony provider for his band. Oyungu released her first single "Happy" in 2004 and her debut album Hatimaye in 2008, and her second studio album Manzili in 2013.
Cecilia Sagini Kemunto, better known as Cece Sagini, is an African singer and songwriter based in Nairobi, Kenya. She first came into the music scene with a collaboration with Jimmy Gait with the song Appointment. There after she has released more popular singles such as "Sio Mwisho", "Feel it", "I'm A Doer" Ft Octopizzo, "9 to 5" and a Kisii song labelled "Ensobosobo".
Taurus Musik is a pan African record label founded by Ikechukwu Arthur Anoke in 2012 as its flagship label. Taurus Musik dabbles in artist management that includes PR, music release, promotion and execution for big wigs in the African Music Scene including Lady Jaydee, Alicios Theluji, Kagwe Mungai, Gin Ideal, Trina Mungai, Urban Hype, Ivlyn Mutua and Tallie.
Nashil Pichen Kazembe (1932–1991) was a Zambian singer from Kaputa District in the Luapula Valley, who gained prominence in the 1970s. He spent a large part of his life in Nairobi, Kenya, where he collaborated with fellow Zambia emigre Peter Tsotsi and Benson Simbeye. As members of Eagles Lupopo Band they sang 'patriotic songs' praising President Kenneth Kaunda and commenting on various social issues.
Jolie Detta Kamenga Kayobote, professionally known as Jolie Detta or Evangeliste Myriam, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, and evangelist. She made her music debut as a member of Choc Stars between 1983 and 1984. Detta later joined Tabu Ley's Orchestre Afrisa International in 1985 and then Franco Luambo's Ok Jazz in 1986, where she garnered national acclaim as the lead vocalist in the band's Extended Play (EP) Le Grand Maitre Franco et son Tout Puissant O.K. Jazz et Jolie Detta, in collaboration with Franco and Simaro Lutumba. The EP featured hit singles "Massu," "Cherie Okamuisi Ngai," "Layile," and "Likambo Ya Somo Lumbe," catapulted her into the limelight with a debut tour to Kenya with OK Jazz the same year. She later rejoined Choc Stars and recorded successful releases before joining Bozi Boziana's newly established ensemble Orchestre Anti-Choc in 1988 after Choc Stars disbanded. Anti-Choc's album La Reine de Sabah, released at the end of 1988, and its eponymous lead single, composed by Boziana, was named the Best Song of the Year and earned her the Best Voice of the Year for her performance.
Congolese