Dear reader, welcome to this week’s edition of New Music on the Radar, MAY 16. This week, we highlight the turn to vernacular lyricism: a complete one by dancehall star Dufla Diligon in Adok Ebei and a partial one by Nviiri the storyteller in Mwana wa Mubi. The Jinja born artist has spent much of his adult life in Kenya and shaped its urban culture so much that few fans […]
Kenyan singer-songwriter Nikita Kering stepped beyond the stage and into policy advocacy on May 13, 2025, as she represented Kenyan musicians at the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) Stakeholders’ Conference held at the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The 23-year-old artist, known for her soulful fusion of R&B and Afro-pop, joined artists and policymakers from across the continent to spotlight the growing concern over the exploitation of […]
The giant stirs again. After years of near silence, Ogopa Deejays—the once-unstoppable force that defined Kenya’s urban sound in the early 2000s—has officially announced its return. The news has lit up Kenyan timelines, with nostalgic fans and younger music lovers alike buzzing with anticipation. On X, voices like @TNXAfrica have hailed their comeback as the rightful return of “the unrivalled kings of East Africa’s pop and urban music.” And leading […]
As Kenya steps into the second half of the 2020s, the government faces the daunting task of navigating a turbulent economic landscape marked by high public debt, rising living costs, and simmering political discontent. The draft Finance Bill 2025, approved by Cabinet in April but yet to be tabled in Parliament, is the first full attempt by the Kenya Kwanza administration to reset fiscal policy after the seismic upheaval […]
Dear reader, welcome to this week’s edition of New Music on the Radar dated MAY 9. Explore the joys of coming out of a dark season in life with Jason Sibi-Okumu’s introspective This is My Life and Modest Chabari’s rather lighthearted No Balance. Sabi Wu and 4MR Frank White keep it gritty in their hustle anthem Dim My Shine, a theme V-BE also explore in their new number, For […]
Welcome to the inaugural edition of Keeping Up with the Discourse, a recurring column dedicated to unpacking the stories, debates, and undercurrents shaping our country. This week, we dive into Blood Parliament, the latest BBC Africa Eye documentary that has reignited Kenya’s collective grief and outrage over the violent crackdown on anti-tax protesters in June 2024. The film, released on April 28, 2025, exposes the lethal actions of security forces […]
Recently, Matata re-released their single Mpishi featuring Bien, a track that had initially been flagged down due to copyright claims. Since its re-upload, Mpishi has soared past 1.3 million views on YouTube in just eight days—an impressive feat that underscores both the group's magnetic appeal and the public’s anticipation of their audiovisual artistry. With this renewed momentum, Matata is once again affirming their place as one of Kenya’s most visually […]
This week’s New Music on the Radar brings a mix of comebacks, reinventions, and bold statements. Boondocks Gang’s unexpected reunion on Kafya shows the gengetone old guard regrouping to face off arbantone stars like Tipsy Gee who has made a matatu anthem Nganya with the help of Mavo on the Beat. Silly by Mau From Nowhere an hihi is as braggadocios as rap songs can get but this is cleverly […]
Due to public demand, RADIO 254 has decided to extend the Kenyan Riddim Submission deadline to May 4th. Please note that the purpose of this challenge is to be about the artist who can sell and market their challenge to get the MOST view by the time of the LIVE SHOW. The Live show will be happening Sunday 11 May 2025 at 7pm EAT on www.254.radio During […]
In 2024, Kenyan music is not just surviving—it’s thriving. New data from Spotify reveals that Kenyan artists were discovered by new listeners over 95 million times, with fans across the globe spending more than 120,000 hours streaming their music. Over 16 million user-created playlists now include Kenyan songs, with exports up by 94% and local consumption soaring 277% in just three years. As Kleptomaniax once asked in their iconic chorus: “Tuendelee ama tusiendelee?” For Kenyan music, the answer is loud […]
