Kenya’s next sound is taking shape, and its biggest stars are growing with it. A year ago, many fast-rising Kenyan artists barely showed up in Spotify listening among 18–24-year-olds in Nairobi. Now several new acts have hundreds of thousands of monthly streams, and established artists are still gaining listeners too.
Spotify data for June 2026 shows the music scene in Nairobi is expanding — new artists are being discovered fast, and older stars are reaching new fans. This means discovery and lasting success are happening at the same time.
Big gains for new artists
- Ywaya Tajiri grew 6,151% and had Nairobi’s most-streamed track in June 2026.
- OnlyMoh (+5,117%), Virusi Mbaya (+4,692%), Codey (+3,622%), and JayLo (+3,015%) all showed huge growth.
- Women artists are also rising fast, with Brandy Maina (+205%) and Maandy (+201%).
Established artists are also growing
- Prince Indah +221%, Nyashinski +147%, Bridget Blue +140%, Kinoti +107%, Nikita Kering +96%.
- Sauti Sol remained the most-streamed Kenya-connected artist in Nairobi and grew by 30%.
What this means Instead of one group replacing another, Nairobi listeners (especially ages 18–24) are listening more widely — finding new talent while still enjoying familiar favorites. Spotify’s Greasy Tunes festival in Nairobi reflects this mix by featuring both emerging acts and big names across events like Fresh Finds, Nakili Sessions, the EQUAL showcase, and headline shows.
Festival highlights
- Greasy Tunes (15–26 July) includes music, food, fashion, sport, comedy, podcasts, and community events.
- Recent events: Poetry Night with Gufy and a headline show by Nyashinski.
- Upcoming: Fresh Finds, Nakili Sessions, and conversations with established artists.
Broader trends Listeners aged 18–24 made up 53.7% of Nairobi’s Spotify streams in June 2026 — the highest Gen Z share compared with Lagos and Johannesburg. Popular genres growing with this audience include dancehall (+95%), bongo flava (+75%), gengetone (+48%), and gospel.
Overall, Kenya’s music scene is growing in size and variety, with new voices emerging quickly and long-standing stars continuing to rise.