Most Popular Musicians in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda & Nigeria

Most Popular Musicians – Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda & Nigeria

If you are thinking of influencer marketing, then the music artiste’s analysis below by Research 8020 would be an excellent guide. The analysis includes an evaluation of the popularity of musicians in Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria and Uganda. Download the quarterly celebrity reports free of charge here

KENYA

Sauti Sol

The afro-pop band that was formed in 2005 still rocks Kenyans with their catchy tunes. It is no wonder that their song Melanin, with over 12 million views topped the chat.

The group has won both local and international accolades like, Kisima awards, best group in Africa at the 2016 MTV Africa Music Awards, 2016 Soundcity MTV Awards MV Awards and African Muzik Magazine Awards (2016 AFRIMMA) among other

Mercy Masika

Despite taking a music break for some time, Mercy Masika is still recognized as a household name and a pioneer of the gospel music industry in Kenya. Her song, Mwema, is number 2 on the most watched songs on YouTube with over 10 million views.

Willy Paul

The controversial gospel music artist, song “I do”, is the 3rd on the Kenyan list with 8.0 million views.

Willy Paul featured Alaine a popular Jamaican female artist in this hit maker.

TANZANIA

Diamond Platnumz

It does not come as a surprise that Diamond Platnumz tops the Tanzania list with his Nana song featuring Flovour from Nigeria with 47 million views.

The Bongo flava, afro-pop singer-songwriter and dancer is the founder of Wasafi Classic Baby (WCB) music label popularly known as WCB Wasafi. The music label has natured artists who have been successful in getting their music across Africa and even nominated for BET Awards, MTV Africa Awards and AFRIMMA.

Despite being a controversial artist, ranging from girlfriends to his lifestyle, Diamond has pivoted Tanzania music on international level. His international collaboes with noted celebrities the likes of: Rick Ross, Omarion, Morgan Heritage, P-Square, Davido, Flavour, Tiwa Savage, among other heavy weight musicians is a true test of how multi-talented the 29-year-old Kigoma artist is.

Harmonize

Harmonize hit maker, Kwangaru, just released 8 months has over 34 million views, making it his best song.

Even though Harmonize music career begun in 2011, he became a hit in 2015 when he was signed to WCB Wasafi music label and released Aiyola. He managed to bug three awards from: WatsUp (TV9) AFRIMMA and AEA USA (in the US)

Ali Kiba

The award winning Ali Kiba is unarguably one of the most influential Tanzanian artist of his time. His song with 16 million views tops the list alongside Rayvanny’s Kwetu.

Despite his arch rivalry with Diamond Platnumz that has spun for over a decade now, the bongo flava musician has done well for himself, testament to the fact that despite his hiatus for 3 years, his best song, Mwana, is one of the most watched songs on YouTube.

In 2015 when he made a comeback in the Tanzania music scene, he won six music awards at the Tanzania Music Awards and broke the record at Mkito.com for the most downloaded song of 2015.

Rayvanny

Known for his Kwetu song that put him in the lime light, WCB Wasafi Records label artist is sharing the third position with Ali Kiba, with 16 million views.

Despite his recent ban not to perform in an out of Tanzania, by BASATA, Tanzania’s regulatory board due to his controversial song, Mwanza, that has ‘sexually offensive’ lyrics the Salome artist is on top of his game.

Ravanny won BET’s   2017 International Viewers’ Choice and was nominated for Breakthrough Act in MTV Africa Music Awards 2016.

NIGERIA

Davido

Davido’s “Fall” music is not only the most viewed video on our list but it has also just made history as the most viewed video on YouTube reaching the 100 million view threshold.

This comes after the “If” singer songs were featured on Google as the most searched songs, 2018. This position was prior held by Yemi Alade’s 2014, Johnny hit single.

Davido joins Yemi Alade on the top 10 most viewed list of Nigerian acts.

Yemi Alade

Sensational Nigerian singer Yemi Alade song, “Johnny” is one of the most watched on YouTube with over 98 million views. She is on the list of the top 10 most viewed Nigerian musicians.

Yemi Alade has won the best female artist in MTV African Music Awards in 2015 & 2016 and has been nominated in the BET Awards for the Best International Act: Africa in 2015.

Sinach

Sinach is a gospel musician of Nigerian’s most popular gospel song, Way Maker.

Sinach has 8 albums and several hit singles. She is recognized globally for her hit songs:  “I Know Who I Am”, “Great Are You Lord”, “Rejoice”, “He Did It Again”, “Precious Jesus”, “The Name of Jesus”, among many more.

UGANDA

Eddy Kenzo

Eddy Kenzo tops Ugandan list with Sitya Loss video with 22 million views and introduced him to an international audience.

Kenzo’s Sitya Loss has been such a hit that it has been shared by mea celebrities like: Ellen Degeneres, Puff Daddy, Akon, Ronaldinho, Tevin Campbell, Sanaa Lathan and so many more worldwide.

Jose Chameleon

Chameleon is the most popular Ugandan musician of his generation in Uganda and other countries. His “Badilisha” song is a testament to his musical prowess with over 7.8 million views.

Chameleon started his career as a Dj in a night club in Kampala before being signed to Kenya based record label, Ogopa.  He broke through with his first hit song, “Bageya” that featured Kenyan artist Redsan.

Chameleon is well known for his musical style which is a combination of Ugandan music, central African rumba, zouk, and reggae.

The multi- award winning music artist hits include Jamila, Mama Rhoda, Shida za Dunia, Kipepeo, Bei Kali, Fitina Yako, Haraka Haraka, Mambo Bado, and Ndivyo Sivyo (feat. Professor Jay).

Radio & Weasel

Radio & Weasel were the formidable duo who formed Goodlyfe crew. Their song Helena, with over 2.9 Million views is 3^rd on the Ugandan list.

Radio& Weasel were backing vocalists in Jose Chameleon’s Leone Island Crew but later broke off to form the Goodlyfe Crew.

Radio the lead singer died early this year in February due to brain injuries after an assault by a bouncer at a club in Entebbe.

Ranking of the musicians

For the purpose of ranking, Research 8020 ranked the various musicians using Research 8020 Rating

Platinum Rating: 100+ million online views

Gold: 10-99 million online views

Silver: 1-9 million online views

On the artists mentioned above, only Davido from Nigeria qualifies as a Platinum musician as his counter parts Yemi Alade and Sinach fall on the Gold category

In Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, their top artists: Sauti sol, Mercy Masika, Diamond Platnumz, Harmonize, Ali Kiba, Rayvanny and Eddy Kenzo fall in the Gold category.

In the Silver category, we have Willy Paul(Kenya), Jose Chameleon and Radio and Weasel (Uganda).

For a full list of the top 50 artists on the different countries, link HERE.