Top 10 Songs from Kenya – 2023

The Kenyan Music Industry is beginning to make waves, even outside the country. With more collaborations with other continentally popularly artistes from Nigeria, and others coming more frequently. Kenyan artistes, are becoming continently and globally more visible, also owing to the wider range of platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Facebook, giving the much-needed exposure to some of these artistes. The likes of Diamond Platinumz and Otile Brown, have become pacesetters for other artistes from Kenya to showcase their talents and works on bigger platforms and showcases. Here are some songs that were prominent in Kenya in 2023:

1. Nyashinski departs from his usual hip hop style, to bring to us an Afropop vibe, in the track “Perfect Design“. The track hits home with the very soulful mix in Nyashinski’s voice. If you doubt me, take a listen to the track, Perfect Design.
2. Soundkraft gave us a very nice jam with the release of “TikToker“, which featured the like of Gody Tennor, Tipsy Gee and Kappy. With a track like that, it sure did make waves on its name sake TikTok very much. The video did it justice with it colorful look and flair.
3. This gengetone banger is yet another testament to the musical abilities of Fathermoh and Ssaru, no matter how lyrically controversial one may see the collaboration or song. Sometimes, the right collaboration is all a song needs to blow up, and top that with a good beat and sound mix and you’ve got a banger, in “Kaskie Vibaya“.
4. Diamond Platinumz one of the most celebrated eastern African artistes drops this banger featuring Juma titled “Enjoy“. The song received a lot of praise most especially within the East African music scene for its grounded and typical Kenyan vibe. But that’s to be expected from one of Kenyans most bankable artistes.
5. Femi One teamed up with Nyashinski one more time after the success of their previous collaboration on “Properly ” to bring us another banger titled “Under the Influence“. The Queen as she is referred to has

   gotten a large fanbase in her home country of Kenya and is well deserved for her immense contribution to the Kenyan Music Industry in recent times.

6. The catchy track titled ‘Ma Cherie‘ from Kenyan artistes BIEN, sparked a TikTok challenge. The fanbase for the artiste were so eager and embraced the whole Bien vibe as usual. The music video with its vintage nostalgic, footage from Kenya did absolute justice to the popularity of the song. This particular trend really boosted the popularity of the song to a global status.
7. Prince Indah brought us “Duk Jawiro” a nice banger. Everyone is stepping up their game in the Kenyan Music Industry. The ability to produce bangers means you don’t just have to be lyrically good, but also get the right beat and mixing. The track was part of the “Puonj Mag Dak” the album formula 5.
8. ‘Cham Thum‘ (Atoti) by Watendawili. This rumba-flavored track had all the makings of a classic. The Cham Thum track was just an unexpected banger, is like you have come to expected bangers from Watendawili, yet it’s a surprise when the track drops, “Cham Thum“, was no different.
9. Boutross, Konshens and 1da Banton brings out the track “Angela“, kicking off the vibrant year, Kenyan rapper and shrap pioneer, Boutross, electrified the music scene with the release of his track Angela.
   
10. Franglish featured Bien on the track “My Baby“, which took a while to set in with people. But once it got in the right amount of airplay, it started resonating with listeners. “My Baby” just sort of takes some listening to, but it’s still a banger in my books. When you have Franglish featuring Bien on any track, then you are certain to have a hit song for sure. Even better is when you feature Ayra Starr on the remix.

These songs received extensive airplay, digital streams, and views on platforms like YouTube and were part of the Kenyan music scene in 2023. However, music preferences can be subjective, and there might be other songs that individuals consider as top songs from 2023 in Kenya. However, these 10 were what I consider. my top 10 songs from the Kenyan Music Scene.