Issah Mmari Wangui, better known by his stage name E-Sir, was a Kenyan hip hop artist. He was the elder brother to fellow Kenyan rapper Habib. He was famous for his deft lyrical ability and command of the Swahili language. The phenomenal popularity of his music disproved the myth that Kenyan music could never compete with imported pop. Even long after his death, he is still widely regarded as one of the best rappers to have emerged on the Kenyan hip hop scene. In 2017, he got nominated for the Mdundo Awards for Most Downloaded Hip-Hop Artist. At the age of only 21, after only a brief but most iconic presence in Kenyan music, he died in a car accident in 2003. Boomba Train was his last hit song.
Sauti Sol is a Kenyan Afropop band formed in Nairobi in 2005 by vocalists Bien-Aimé Baraza, Willis Chimano and Savara Mudigi. Initially an a cappella group, guitarist Polycarp Otieno joined before they named themselves Sauti Sol.
Dan Okoth, better known as Dan Aceda, is a Kenyan musician, entrepreneur, architect, and actor from Nairobi. He has recently been recognised by a Kenyan online magazine as having one of the top 10 most iconic male voices in his home country. In 2014 he was nominated to be a part of the Global Accelerator Conference for entrepreneurs organised by the UN Foundation in New York City. He is also a 2013–2014 Global Health Corps fellow.
P.J. Morton is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. Since 2012, he has been the keyboardist for the pop band Maroon 5. Morton originally joined the band as a touring member in 2010 and became an official member in 2012 after Jesse Carmichael went on a short hiatus.
George Lubega Timothy is a Ugandan singer known by his stage name Exodus. He made his musical debut in 2008 with his hit single "Ganja Man".
Gloria Owendi, commonly referred to as Gloria Muliro, is a Kenyan Gospel musician and songwriter. In 2005, she released her first studio album, titled Omwami Aletsa. As of 2013, Muliro had four albums to her name, the most successful being Kibali (Mandate), which has the popular song "Sitolia" featuring Willy Paul. The album earned her six Groove Awards nominations. She went on to receive the female artist of the year award at the eighth Groove Awards, an event that was attended by President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta.
The Groove Awards is a Kenyan annual Gospel award. The winners are chosen by the public. The award's coverage has spread to include other East African countries, including Rwanda. It is sponsored by Safaricom and MoSound Events.
"Preachers" is a Ghanaian gospel group. The group is made up of three members, Obed Psych, Emani Beats and Edmund Baidoo. Since 2009, as pacesetters of the urban gospel movement in Ghana, they have toured locally and internationally to preach the word of God through their music. Preachers are notable pioneers of urban gospel/hiphop genre in Ghana and continue to set the pace for the new generation of gospel music.
Ali Saleh Kiba, best known as Ali Kiba or occasionally as King Kiba, is a Tanzanian musician and songwriter. He is one of the most talented musicians in East Africa and mostly considered the King of Bongo Flava music Genre. He is from Kigoma and the owner of Kings Music label and the Crown Media Group. With hit songs such as Mwana, Aje, Chekecha Cheketua, Cinderella, Nakshi Mrembo, Usiniseme, Dushelele, Single Boy with Lady Jaydee, Mapenzi Yana Run Dunia,mahaba,mama with legendary yvone chaka chaka and Macmuga. Ali Kiba is usually regarded as one of the most successful Bongo Flava stars usually associated with close rivalry with Diamond Platnumz.
Elani is a Kenyan African pop group from Nairobi. It consists of three members; Wambui Ngugi, Brian Chweya and Maureen Kunga. The trio released their debut single"Jana Usiku" in November 2013 that became a great success, paving way for their subsequent singles. In 2014, the trio released numerous singles in the making of their debut album Barua ya Dunia.
Agundabweni Akweyu is a Kenyan born record producer, co-founder of record label Bwenieve, co-founder of Praise Atmosphere, arranger, composer, songwriter, entrepreneur, audio engineer and a husband to Kenyan gospel musician Evelyn Wanjiru. Based in Nairobi Kenya, he is best known for producing hit songs for both established and uprising musicians. His unique style of production has seen a turn around in Kenyan gospel music; more musicians aspire to work with him.
Bwenieve Records is a Kenyan-based record label founded by producer Agundabweni Akweyu and his wife Evelyn Wanjiru, a Kenyan gospel musician. The label produced hit songs for musicians such as Wanjiru, Gloria Muliro, Emmy Kosgei, Kambua, Tumaini and Martha Mwaipaja.
Odi pop is a Kenyan music style which involves localized hip hop and draws influences from reggae and Dancehall music to build on an African Rhythm base performed in sing-along rap in heavy Kiswahili/Sheng language. There are several sub-genres stemming from this umbrella term including Gengeton, Dabonge, Debe and others. The music is spearheaded by Kenyan youths and most of them are pursuing their careers as music groups opposed to solo careers.
William Nicholaus Lyimo, popularly known by his stage name Bill Nass, is a Tanzanian rapper of Chagga heritage, he was born in Tanga, Tanga Region. MTV Base named him among the "50 Artists To Watch For In 2017". He is currently based in Dar es Salaam. Months after the release of his debut single "Raha", Lyimo was nominated on 2015's Kilimanjaro Tanzania Music Awards (KTMA) as a "New Best Artist".
Mbwana Yusuf Kilungi, better known by his stage name Mbosso Khan is a Tanzanian singer and songwriter born in Kibiti, Pwani Region, he is currently based in Dar es Salaam and signed under WCB Wasafi record label. Mbosso is known for his songs "Nadekezwa" and "Hodari" which won Video of the Year at HiPipo Awards 2019. Mbosso released his debut studio album, Definition of Love, in March 2021.
Major Nameye Khadija popularly known by his stage name Mejja is a Kenyan Genge artist. He was signed to Calif Records, where he released multiple collaborations. His single "Jana Kuliendaje" won an award at Kenya's Chaguo la Teeni in 2008.
Dante Bowe is an American contemporary music singer, and songwriter. He is known as a former member of the Bethel Music collective and Maverick City Music.
Janet Achieng Otieno is a singer and songwriter of gospel music from Kenya. She was the winner of Mwafaka Awards and nominated at Groove Awards for "Collaboration of the year" in 2014 for the song "Napokea Kwako" which featured Christina Shusho from Tanzania.
Shariff Thabit Ramadhan, better known by his stage name Darassa is a Tanzanian hip hop artist, recognized for his 2016 hit song 'Muziki', featuring Ben Pol.
Kevin Mbuvi Kioko, popularly known by the stage name Bahati, is a Kenyan singer and songwriter and former parliamentary candidate. His latest album, Love Like This, was released in 2021. He is also known by his nickname, 'Mtoto wa Mama'.
