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New Afropop Star TheMumbua is the Face of Ogopa Deejays Comeback

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 […]

todayMay 14, 2025 24

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Breaking Down Kenya’s Proposed Finance Bill 2025

  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 […]

todayMay 13, 2025 209

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New Music on the Radar May 12th 2025

  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 […]

todayMay 12, 2025 21 1 2

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Keeping Up with the Discourse: Blood Parliament and Kenya’s Reckoning

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 […]

todayMay 8, 2025 18

Article

Exploring the Matata Hipster Aesthetic

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 […]

todayMay 7, 2025 52 2

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New Music on the Radar May 6 2025(Frank Ireri, Tipsy GEE, Mau & Boondocks Gang)

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 […]

todayMay 7, 2025 43

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KENYAN RIDDIM VOLUME 1 DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MAY 4TH 2025

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 […]

todayMay 1, 2025 38

Article

What Kenyan Music Is Getting Right

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 […]

todayMay 1, 2025 20

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Videos of Idd Aziz at Coachella 2025 Surface on Social Media

The Kenyan oontz music scene is buzzing with excitement as videos of Kenyan Afro-House sensation Idd Aziz performing at Coachella 2025 have surfaced online, courtesy of a collaboration with Haitian DJ and producer Francis Mercier. The clips, shared by Ngoma Charts on X, capture the artist in his element, commanding the stage with his signature sound and vibrant energy. Fans are speculating that Idd Aziz might be the first Kenyan […]

todayApril 30, 2025 31

Article

Sabi Wu vs. Lilmaina and the Question of Artistic Originality by Otieno Arudo

In Nairobi’s buzzing hip-hop and arbantone ecosystem, a storm is quietly escalating beneath the surface of viral TikToks and high-streaming singles. A recent online spat has brought the usually blurred line between inspiration and imitation into sharp focus, as Kilimani-based rapper and producer Sabi Wu accuses the more prominent Lilmaina of biting his style. The saga began with Instagram close-friend stories — videos initially visible to a select audience — […]

todayApril 29, 2025 50 1

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