Kenya’s music landscape is undergoing a defining transformation. For the past two years, Bien, Sauti Sol and rap trio Wakadinali have dominated Spotify’s charts, consistently ranking among the platform’s Top 10 most-streamed local artists. They held their own against global giants such as Drake — Kenya’s most-streamed artist among 18–24-year-olds — and Kendrick Lamar, who ranks third nationwide in 2025.

But this year signals a turning point. Kenyans streamed more than 180 million hours of music on Spotify in 2025, and a growing share of that attention went to a new generation of homegrown talent.

Emerging Artists Break Through

Spotify Wrapped 2025 highlights the rapid rise of fresh Kenyan voices. Artists such as Njerae, Toxic Lyrikali and Watendawili surged into mainstream visibility, each securing spots in Kenya’s Top 10 most-streamed songs for the first time.

Their album performances were equally strong:

• Njerae’s Unintentional and Watendawili’s En Route debuted in the Top 5 most-streamed local albums.
• They now sit alongside long-standing favourites such as Bien’s Alusa, Why Are You Topless? — especially popular among listeners aged 35–44 — and Sauti Sol’s Midnight Train.

These milestones reflect a rare moment where established icons and rising artists share the spotlight, signalling an increasingly diverse and competitive local scene.

Kenya’s Most-Streamed Song Is Homegrown

The clearest indicator of this shift: the year’s No. 1 song is Kenyan.
Njerae’s “Aki Sioni” topped all charts — local and international — becoming Kenya’s most-streamed track of 2025, driven largely by 18–24-year-old listeners.

Only three of the year’s Top 10 most-streamed songs in Kenya are by international acts:

• Kendrick Lamar – “Luther”
• Shallipopi – “Laho”
• Chella – “My Darling” (No. 10)

The depth of local success continues with Watendawili, who earned four spots on the local chart with “Inakubalika,” “Matata,” “Cham Thum (Atoti),” and “Hadi Kesho.”
Toxic Lyrikali — Kenya’s most-discovered artist of 2025 — also claimed two Top 10 positions with “Chinje” and “Backbencher,” reinforcing the momentum of this new wave.

Genres Powering Kenya’s Listening Trends

Four genres shaped the bulk of Kenya’s music consumption in 2025:

• Rap
• Hip-Hop
• Afropop
• Afrobeats

Together with R&B, these genres define the modern Kenyan soundscape — and reflect patterns consistent with recent years. Spotify also reports Kenya’s average listening age at 28, underscoring a young and energetic audience driving streaming behaviour.

Kenyan Artists Expand Global Reach

Kenya’s export stars continued to make waves internationally.
Key contributors include Idd Aziz, Karun, Bien, Sauti Sol, and rising export talent Zum.

Karun enjoyed a particularly strong year globally, with “Maharani” and “Mrignaini” earning significant traction. Zum’s “Rebel” and Francis Mercier’s collaboration “Kamili” also gained international attention, while Marioo and Bien’s “Nairobi” carried the capital’s identity far beyond its borders.

A Five-Decade Listening Journey

Kenyans also continued to explore music across generations, with old and new hits appearing prominently in decade-based streaming charts:

• 2020s: Njerae – Aki Sioni
• 2010s: Kendrick Lamar & SZA – All The Stars
• 1990s: Chris Brown & Jordin Sparks – No Air
• 1980s: Mario – Let Me Love You
• 1970s: Billie Eilish – Ocean Eyes

Spotify’s Take

“Kenya’s 2025 Wrapped reveals a music scene that’s more vibrant than ever. It’s inspiring to see how strongly Kenyans have streamed their own homegrown talent this year, championing rising voices while still celebrating the artists who’ve shaped the culture,” said Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa.

A Dynamic, Evolving Musical Ecosystem

2025 affirmed Kenya’s place as one of Africa’s most eclectic music markets. The country saw a surge in local listening supported by global-infused genres — from Tecnobrega to 3 Step — pointing to a bold, experimental sonic identity now shaping Kenya’s future cultural exports.

Key Spotify Wrapped 2025 Kenya Rankings

Top-Streamed Kenyan Artists

1. Bien
2. Sauti Sol
3. Wakadinali
4. Toxic Lyrikali
5. Bensoul
6. Watendawili
7. Njerae
8. Nyashinski
9. Lil Maina
10. Okello Max

Top-Streamed Artists (Overall)

1. Drake
2. Bien
3. Kendrick Lamar
4. Future
5. Chris Brown
6. Travis Scott
7. Gunna
8. The Weeknd
9. Vybz Kartel
10. Sauti Sol

Top-Streamed Kenyan Songs

1. Njerae – Aki Sioni
2. Mutoriah – Beta
3. Charisma – Sina Noma
4. Matata & Watendawili – Inakubalika
5. Bensoul & Bien – Extra Pressure
6. Toxic Lyrikali & County Hype – Backbencher
7. Toxic Lyrikali – Chinje
8. Watendawili – Cham Thum
9. Watendawili – Hadi Kesho
10. Savara – Show You Off

Top-Streamed Songs (Overall)

1. Njerae – Aki Sioni
2. Mutoriah – Beta
3. Charisma – Sina Noma
4. Matata – Inakubalika
5. Bensoul & Bien – Extra Pressure
6. Toxic Lyrikali & Country Hype – Backbencher
7. Kendrick Lamar – Luther (with SZA)
8. Shallipopi – Laho
9. Toxic Lyrikali – Chinje
10. Chella – My Darling

Top-Streamed Kenyan Albums

1. Bien – Alusa, Why Are You Topless?
2. Sauti Sol – Midnight Train
3. Njerae – Unintentional
4. Watendawili – En Route
5. Charisma – The Motions
6. Sauti Sol – Afrikan Sauce
7. KODONGKLAN – Disko
8. Sauti Sol – Live and Die in Afrika
9. Bensoul – The Party & The After Party
10. Wakadinali – Ndani Ya Cockpit 3

Top-Streamed Albums (Overall)

1. Bien – Alusa, Why Are You Topless?
2. SZA – SOS Deluxe (LANA)
3. Sauti Sol – Midnight Train
4. Playboi Carti – Music
5. Kendrick Lamar – GNX
6. SZA – SOS
7. PARTYNEXTDOOR – $ome $exy $ongs 4 U
8. Chris Brown – 11:11
9. Njerae – Unintentional
10. Tyla – TYLA