Wakadinali

Last updated

Wakadinali
Wakadinali Ndani ya Cockpit.jpg
Ndani ya Cockpit 3 album cover
Background information
OriginEastlands, Nairobi, Kenya
Genres
Years active2013–present
LabelsRong Rende
Members
  • Scar Mkadinali
  • Domani Munga
  • Sewersydaa
Website YouTube channel

Wakadinali is a Kenyan hip hop group from Nairobi, Kenya. Formed in the early 2010s, the group consists of three members, David Munga Ramadhan professionally known as Domani Munga, Churchill Mandela professionally known as Scar Mkadinali and Salim Ali Tangut professionally known as Sewersydaa. [1] The group is also known as Rong Rende. [2] Wakadinali who are from the Eastlands area in Nairobi started out as an underground hiphop group and broke into the mainstream in 2020. [3]

Contents

Known for their gritty lyrics, street-oriented narratives, and fusion of gengetone, drill, and hardcore hip hop, Wakadinali have become one of the most influential rap groups in Kenya.

They gained mainstream recognition with their 2020 album Victims of Madness , which featured hits like "Njege/Sanse", "Morio Anzenza" and "Avoid Those People". Wakadinali are credited with redefining Kenyan urban hip hop by incorporating street slang (Sheng) and highlighting life in Nairobi's Eastlands.

Tela Wangeci writing in The Native linked the group to a "hiphop renaissance" in Nairobi, which she attributed to their ability to make music that represents the ordinary Kenyan youth. [4]

History

Formation and early years (2013–2018)

Wakadinali began as an underground rap group based in Nairobi’s Eastlands area, especially Umoja. Scar Mkadinali and Domani Munga founded the group and were later joined by rapper-videographer Sewersydaa initially recognized as Slim Visuals. The trio released early freestyles and mixtapes on YouTube, building a grassroots fan base. Their music reflected life in the informal settlements, tackling themes of survival, crime, politics, and inner-city struggle.

Ndani ya Cockpit 1 was their debut album in 2017. It was then followed by a second album in 2018, Ndani ya Cockpit 2. The album uses a lot of trap sound. [5]

Breakthrough

In 2019, they collaborated with Kenyan rapper Dyana Cods to release the single Morio Anzenza, a Sheng phrase that translates to 'day ones'. [6]

In 2020, Wakadinali released the Victims of Madness album which brought them into the mainstream. The 15-track album heavily relied on drill sounds and included hit songs like XL, Extra Pressure and Morio Anzenza. [7] Tangaza Magazine writes that the name of the album "invites the audience to look at crime and criminals in a different way. What if we put ourselves in their shoes and saw their state of victimhood?". [8] A common theme of the album is gun violence with songs such as XXL entirely focusing on the topic. In the album, Wakadinali frequently hint that gun violence is not always originating from the gangsters, but rather from police officers. Police brutality is a common theme in songs such as Njege Sanse and Kim Jong Un.

In 2021, in collaboration with Sir Bwoy, they released Geri inengi, a single that gained them more mainstream recognition. The song popularized the Sheng phrase "Subaru ya Mambaru" which refers to a Subaru car full of detectives. [9]

In 2022, Rolling Stone listed their song "Mc Mca" as one of the top 40 Afropop songs of 2022. [10] Their song "Sikutambui" was also listed Rolling Stone's The 40 Best Afropop Songs of 2023 list. [11] In 2022, Wakadinali were the second most streamed local artists in Kenya on Spotify. [12] In 2023, Wakadinali were the most streamed artists in Kenya on Spotify. They were also was the fifth most streamed hip-hop artists in Kenya. [2] In 2022, Wakadinali released three albums. Easy and Haitaki Hasira were released in January 2022, while Ndani ya Cockpit 3 was released in December of the same year. [13] Ndani ya Cockpit 3 was the 10th most streamed album of 2023 in Kenya. [14] In 2024, Wakadinali were the second-most streamed musicians in Kenya on Spotify. [15]

Discography

Studio albums

Awards and nominations

YearAwardsRecipient(s) and nominee(s)CategoryResultRef.
2019Unkut HipHop AwardsThemselvesBest Rap GroupNominated [16]
"Mario Anzeza" (feat. Dyana Cods)Song of the YearNominated
Ndani ya Cockpit 2Album of the YearNominated
2020"Extra Pressure"Video of the YearNominated [17]
"XXXL"Song of the YearNominated
ThemselvesBest Rap GroupWon
2021Pulse Music Video Awards"Avoid Those People" (feat. All Stars)Best Collaboration of the YearNominated [18]
WakadinaliBest Group Video of the YearNominated
2022ThemselvesBest Group of the YearWon [19]
2023Nominated [20]

References

  1. ↑ "Wakadinali Take The Top Spot As Kenya's Most Streamed Artists - The Sauce". www.capitalfm.co.ke.
  2. 1 2 Nzyoka, Nzula. "Wakadinali fifth most popular hip-hop group in Kenya after Drake, Burna Boy, 21 Savage". KBC. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  3. ↑ Kimutai, Cyprian. "Wakadinali tease 'Ndani ya Cockpit 3'". Pulse.live.co.ke. Pulse. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  4. ↑ Wangeci, Tela. "50 YEARS OF HIP-HOP: A CURRENT LOOK AT NAIROBI'S THRIVING RAP SCENE". NATIVE. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  5. ↑ Muiruri, Beautah. "Acumen and Dominion: Why Wakadinali only sit in the cockpit of entertainment". WAKILISHA. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  6. ↑ Biggest Kaka. "WAKADINALI BRINGS OUT DYANA CODS ON THEIR NEW SINGLE 'MORIO ANZEZA'". Biggest Kaka. Biggest Kaka. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  7. ↑ Standard Entertainment. "Victims of Madness: Wakadinali album to drop in November". The Standard. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  8. ↑ Mwandishi, Mesh. "Wakadinali's Drill Themed "Victim's Of Madness" Challenge's Our Notions On Crime & Its Perpetrators". TANGAZA. TANGAZA MAGAZINE. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  9. ↑ Matiko, Sinda. "Subaru Ya Mambaru most streamed song in Kenya". NATION. NATION. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  10. ↑ Conteh, Mankaprr; Makinde, Tami; Miya, Madzadza; Saraki, Seyi; Wangeci, Tela. "The 40 Best Afropop Songs of 2022". RollingStone. RollingStone. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  11. ↑ Rolling Stone. "The 40 Best Afropop Songs of 2023". Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  12. ↑ Waruinge, Maureen. "Lil Maina to Wakadinali - Top streamed Kenyan songs of 2022 on Spotify". Mpasho. Mpasho. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  13. ↑ Robi, Amos. "Top 22 Kenyan albums and EPs released in 2022 [Pulse Picks]". Pulselive.co.ke. Pulse. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  14. ↑ Kivuva, Mark. "Wakadinali dominate Spotify Wrapped 2023". KBC. KBC. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  15. ↑ "Wakadinali Just Reached a Major Milestone on Spotify". www.mpasho.co.ke. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  16. ↑ Ilado, Lucy. "UnKut Africa Hip Hop Awards 2019: All the nominees". Music in Africa. Music in Africa. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  17. ↑ Boombuzz Kenya. "Wakadinali and Ssaru Shine at The UnKut Hip Hop Awards, 2020". Boomplay. Boomplay. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  18. ↑ Opondo, Agnes. "Pulse Music Video Awards 2021: Full List Of Winners". KENYANVIBE. KENYANVIBE. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  19. ↑ Choge, Peter. "2022 Pulse Music Video Awards in Kenya: All the winners". Music in Africa. Music in Africa. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  20. ↑ Choge, Peter. "Pulse Music Video Awards 2023 in Kenya: All the winners". Music in Africa. Music in Africa. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
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