The music of Kenya is very diverse, with multiple types of folk music based on the variety over 50 regional languages.
Hubert Mbuku Nakitare, commonly known by his stage name Nonini, is a Kenyan hip hop recording artiste, entertainer, radio presenter, businessman and philanthropist. He is often referred to as the Godfather because he is very well known.
Necessary Noize was a Kenyan hip hop group.
Wawesh is a hip-hop artist and producer from Kenya. The Sweden-based MC has been creating a buzz in Swahili-speaking communities in Eastern Africa and the Diaspora via his three consecutive hit singles plus highly acclaimed debut album, “It’s Meant To Be”.
P-Unit is a Kenyan hip hop group consisting of Kenyan hip hop artists Frasha, Gabu, and Bon-eye.
Swabri Mohammed, better known by his stage name Redsan, is a Kenyan reggae and ragga musician. He is one of the most well renowned ragga and dancehall artists in East Africa. His popularity has extended to the rest of Africa, and parts of Europe, United States, and the Middle East.
Peter Gatonye, known better for his stage name Pilipili is a musician/singer from Kenya. At the beginning of his career, he collaborated with another musician, Gun B. Their best known song was "Nampenda". He has also sung a song with Ratatat. The song was called Morale.
Paul Julius Nunda, better known by his stage name Jua Cali, is a Kenyan hip hop artist. In 2000, together with record producer Clemo, he founded Calif Records where he has been ever since. Jua Cali performs in Swahili and Sheng in a popular Kenyan style of rapping called genge.
Cecilia Wairimu, better known by her stage name Amani, is a Kenyan singer and songwriter. Her contributions to the Kenyan music industry have earned her several coveted accolades, including the Best Female category at the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards, Pearl of Africa Music Awards, Kisima Awards and Chaguo La Teeniez Awards. She released her debut album in 2006. Cecilia Wairimu got born again in 2018 with 'My God' and 'Upendo' being some of her songs as a born again Christian. This new leaf came as both a surprise and shock to her fans but she stated she was there to stay.
Rosemary Wahu Kagwi, professionally known by her mononym Wahu, is a Kenyan singer-songwriter, former fashion model, actress and entrepreneur. She is married to fellow artist David Mathenge aka "Nameless" since 2005 and together they have two girls. She released her first single "Niangalie" which received positive reception all over Africa and the world at large. She is the inaugural recipient of the MTV Africa Music Awards 2008, for Best Female Artist category. Moreover, she has won the Pearl of Africa Music Awards, Chaguo La Teeniez Awards and Kisima Music Awards. In the acting industry, Wahu had a leading role in the television series Tazama. In 2017 she released a new gospel song "Sifa".
Camp Mulla was an alternative hip hop group originating from and based in Nairobi, Kenya. The group rose to prominence with the release of their single "Party Don't Stop" on 31 August 2010, with that and their subsequent works earning them a nomination for Best International Act (Africa) at the 2012 BET Awards. Following the release of their debut studio album, Funky Town, the group's lead singer Karun and rapper Taio both left the group to pursue higher education and solo careers. In September 2017 the main four members announced their reunion at The Wave performance at the Waterfront, Ng'ong racecourse, but soon after disbanded again. The group's musical style, fashion sense and origins have drawn comparisons to The Black Eyed Peas, while they have also been criticised for making "bubblegum music".
"Party Don't Stop" is the debut single by Kenyan alternative hip hop group Camp Mulla, featuring Kenyan rapper Collo. It peaked at #2 on 98.4 Capital FM's radio playlist Hits Not Homework and at #13 on Homeboyz Radio's HitList, making it Camp Mulla's most successful single so far. The single won an award for "Teeniez' Group or Collabo" at the 2012 Chaguo La Teeniez Awards.
Daniel "Churchill" Ndambuki(Born 30 October 1977) is a Kenyan comedian who hosts the comedy television show Churchill Show on NTV Kenya on Sundays and Thursdays. Churchill was born in Kitui town, but moved to Machakos. He has worked in the comedy industry since 1996 and has now become a household name in Kenya. He launched the Churchill Live Comedy Show in September 2008 but was renamed Churchill Show during its third season in 2012. The show has given a platform to hundreds of comedians in the country, the most successful ones being Eric Omondi, Teacher Wanjiku, Professor Hammo, MCA Tricky, Jemutai, Magazine and Dr. Kingori.
Sauti Sol are a Kenyan afro-pop band formed in Nairobi, Kenya by vocalists Bien-Aimé Baraza, Willis Chimano and Savara Mudigi in 2005. Initially an a cappella group, guitarist Polycarp Otieno joined before they named themselves Sauti Sol.
Simon Njoroge, popularly known as Shrekeezy, was a Kenyan advertising strategist. He has also been largely involved in art and entertainment as a radio host, TV presenter, rapper, DJ and Entertainment Executive. He first gained major attention for his successful online radio show Shrekeezy Live which was later taken up as a daily radio show on Hero Radio Kenya after gaining over 40,000 fans on social media. As a marketing executive at Hero Radio, Simon developed huge interest on Internet marketing and took part-time classes with Chartered Institute of Marketing. During this period, he played a major role in marketing muicbook.com, a social networking site that was founded by his colleague and close friend Samuel Keige. The site was however sold to Afroleo.com. He left Kenya a year later to be the personal assistant of Tanzania-based Indian entrepreneur Nilesh Bhatt. He later that year joined Pilipili Entertainment, a Tanzanian film production company owned by Nilesh Bhatt as the marketing manager. He had since worked as a Digital Strategist in major East African Advertising agencies like Scanad, MetropolitanRepublic, Express DDB and BrandVision Advertising.
Rachel Kiwanuka, better known by her stage name Rachel K or Rachel Kay, is a Ugandan musician. Rachel K was born November 1, 1986 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The daughter of Ugandan singer Halima Namakula, Kiwanuka has recorded several successful albums, toured widely throughout the region and collaborated with Ugandan and other regional artists. She has also worked as a comedian and television presenter, making appearances on such mainstream broadcasts as Jam Agenda and Tusker Project Fame.
Judith Nyambura Mwangi, better known by her mononym Avril, is a Kenyan singer-songwriter, actress and entertainer. She was formerly signed to Ogopa Deejays, one of the leading music production and record labels in Kenya. As a singer, she is popularly known for her singles "Mama", "Kitu Kimoja", "Chokoza" and "Hakuna Yule". As an actress, she is best known for playing Miss B'Have on Shuga: Love, Sex, Money (2012). Avril's contributions to the Kenyan entertainment industry have earned her one Nzumari Award, one Kisima Music Award, one Golden Mic Award and two Chaguo La Teeniez Awards.
Andrew Kabiru Karuku, popularly known as Abbas Kubaff, is a Kenyan hip hop artist who was raised in the Kariobangi South, Nairobi. As a member of the rap group K-South, and later as a solo artist, Abbas has shaped and pioneered rap music in East Africa from the in 1995. K-South was a trio formed by Abbas, his brother KC and neighborhood friend Bamboo. The group split in 2005 after KC went missing and Bamboo move to the United States. As a solo artist Abbas is famous for hit songs such as "Chapaa" and "Tokelezea". He won a Chaguo La Teeniez Awards award in 2008 and a Golden Mic award in 2011. In 2006, Kubaff released his debut album Angabanga. He has toured extensively in Europe and has performed in Nairobi as the opening act for Coolio, Lost Boyz, Maxi Priest and Akon. In 2014 he released his fourth studio album known as Ghettoholic.
Jacob Obunga popularly known as Otile Brown is a Kenyan independent R&B singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor. He gained media attention after the release of his hit single "Imaginary Love" which features Khaligraph Jones.He released his debut studio album, Best of Otile Brown, in April 2017. The album was supported by the singles "Basi", "Alivyonipenda", "Shujaa Wako", "DeJavu" and "Aiyolela". Brown had also collaborated with artists such as Sanaipei Tande, and Barakah The Prince, King Kaka among others.
