In a bid to reclaim their dominance in the East African music scene, Kenyan artists are rallying together after popular musician Bahati issued a powerful call for unity. The Kenyan music industry has been facing stiff competition from neighboring countries like Tanzania and Nigeria, with the likes of Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz reigning supreme in the region.
Bahati, whose real name is Kevin Kioko, took to social media to share his concerns about the domination of foreign artists in Kenyan charts. He posted screenshots showing Tanzanian and Nigerian artists dominating the top spots, leaving Kenyan musicians struggling to make an impact on the global stage.
The talented singer urged his fellow artists to set aside their individual ambitions and collaborate to take the Kenyan sound to new heights. He emphasized that no single Kenyan artist can achieve global success alone and that unity is the key to reclaiming their leadership and respect in African music.
“This is the time for Kenyan musicians to stop thinking they can make it alone and simply come together,” Bahati passionately declared. “If we come together as a team, we will no longer be relegated to curtain-raising for our neighbors. Look at what they’re doing; they’re coming together and taking over home and away!”
The call for unity struck a chord within the industry, with fellow artist Eric Omondi echoing Bahati’s sentiments.
Omondi, who has been an advocate for more airplay for Kenyan music, expressed his enthusiasm for the movement, stating, “Let’s take back our rightful position as leaders of the region.”
Bahati’s wife, Diana Marua, also weighed in on the matter, urging artists to come together to build the Kenyan music industry. She emphasized that Kenyan content creators were already leading the way in Africa and that the industry had immense potential for growth if artists worked together.
The emergence of Tanzanian and Nigerian artists dominating Kenyan charts has been a growing concern for the Kenyan music fraternity. Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz, in particular, has become the undisputed face of East African music to the outside world, garnering millions of subscribers and views on YouTube, with a significant portion coming from Kenya.
Furthermore, Afrobeats, a genre rooted in West Africa, has been rapidly gaining global popularity, with artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Rema dominating charts abroad and selling out shows in the UK and the US. Spotify, the world’s largest streaming platform, reported that Afrobeats had been streamed a staggering 13 billion times in 2022, attributing its success to its ability to blend with other genres.
Despite the challenges, Kenyan music has had some notable successes. The recent inclusion of Gengetone as a category for the Grammy Awards has highlighted the genre’s potential. Additionally, several Kenyan musicians have received recognition from international awarding bodies, including Sauti Sol and Bensoul, who received Grammy certificates for their work on Burna Boy’s “Twice As Tall” album.
With the spotlight now firmly on the Kenyan music industry’s potential, Bahati’s call for unity has ignited a revolution among artists. The collective effort to collaborate, innovate, and promote Kenyan talent has already shown promise, with various artists teasing potential collaborations and projects in the works.
As the second edition of the Shoke Shoke festival approaches, which will be headlined by Nigerian artist Ruger, Kenyan musicians are gearing up to make their mark on the event and showcase the true power and diversity of Kenyan music.
The challenge to beat out foreign competition from Tanzania and Nigeria is undoubtedly a steep one, but with the newfound determination to work together, Kenyan artists are setting their sights on reclaiming their position as leaders in the East African music scene. The music industry’s future looks brighter than ever, and fans can eagerly anticipate an exciting era of Kenyan musical innovation and unity.