Kenya’s next sound is taking shape, and its biggest stars are growing with it

Spotify data reveals breakout Kenyan artists are recording significant year-on-year growth among young listeners, while established acts continue attracting new audiences, suggesting Kenya’s music ecosystem is expanding rather than undergoing a changing of the guard.

 

A year ago, many of Kenya’s fastest-growing artists barely registered in Spotify’s streaming data among listeners aged 18–24. Today, several are recording hundreds of thousands of monthly streams, while some of the country’s most established names continue to post strong year-on-year growth.

New Spotify listening data for June 2026 suggests that Kenya’s music ecosystem is expanding rather than simply shifting attention from one generation of artists to the next. Emerging acts are finding audiences faster than ever, while long-established artists continue to reach new listeners, creating a landscape where discovery and longevity coexist.

As Spotify’s Greasy Tunes continues in Nairobi, the findings reinforce one of the festival’s central themes: celebrating the full breadth of Kenya’s music ecosystem. From Fresh Finds and Nakili Sessions to the EQUAL showcase and headline performances, the programme brings together emerging talent and established artists, reflecting the same discovery and growth captured in Spotify’s latest listening data.

 Key Findings

Spotify’s listening data among Nairobi’s 18–24 listeners highlights strong momentum across both emerging and established artists:

A breakout moment for emerging artists

• Ywaya Tajiri recorded 6,151%year-on-year growth, with Chai ya saa kumi becoming Nairobi’s most-streamed track in June 2026
• OnlyMoh grew 5,117%year on year
• Virusi Mbaya posted 4,692%growth
• Codey grew3,622%, while JayLo recorded 3,015% growth
• Brandy Maina (+205%)and Maandy (+201%) also recorded strong year-on-year growth, highlighting the continued rise of women artists within Kenya’s next generation

The data captures a fast-moving discovery moment for Kenyan artists, reflecting the speed at which new talent is finding audiences across the country. At the same time, Kenya’s biggest names continue to grow, suggesting the country’s music ecosystem is expanding rather than simply shifting attention from one generation of artists to the next.

 The stars are still rising

The growth story extends well beyond emerging talent. Among Kenya’s most established artists, Prince Indah recorded 221% year-on-year growth among 18–24 listeners, while Nyashinski grew 147%, Bridget Blue 140%, Kinoti 107% and Nikita Kering’ 96%.

Even Sauti Sol, the most-streamed Kenya-connected artist in Nairobi during June 2026, continued to grow, posting 30% year-on-year growth.

Rather than signalling a changing of the guard, the data points to an audience that is expanding its listening across generations of artists, discovering new voices while continuing to embrace established favourites.

“One of the most exciting things about Kenya’s music scene today is that growth is happening across the board. We’re seeing emerging artists build audiences at remarkable speed while established acts continue finding new listeners. That tells us discovery isn’t replacing legacy; it’s expanding it. Greasy Tunes is designed to celebrate that full spectrum of talent by bringing together breakthrough artists, household names and the communities discovering them.” — Agnes Opondo, Artist and Label Partnerships, East Africa, Spotify

Greasy Tunes: Where discovery meets legacy

Running from 15 to 26 July at Heltz House, Nairobi, Greasy Tunes brings together emerging artists and established names through a 12-day celebration of music, food, fashion, sport, comedy, podcasts and community experiences.

On 22 July, spoken word artist Gufy brought audiences together for Poetry Night, celebrating storytelling and self-expression through an evening of spoken word performances. The following day, Nyashinski took to the Greasy Tunes stage, delivering a headline performance that brought his premium Spotify fans together to celebrate one of Kenya’s most enduring musical voices.

The festival continues this week with Fresh Finds and Nakili Sessions spotlighting Kenya’s next generation of talent, alongside the EQUAL Showcase and conversations with established artists that celebrate the depth and diversity of the country’s music ecosystem.

Broader Context

The growth of both emerging and established artists reflects a wider shift in Nairobi’s listening culture.

Spotify’s June 2026 data shows that listeners aged 18-24 accounted for 53.7% of all streams in Nairobi, the highest Gen Z share among Nairobi, Lagos, and Johannesburg. The same audience is driving strong growth across genres including dancehall (+95%), bongo flava (+75%), gengetone (+48%), and gospel (+37%), while continuing to discover both emerging and established Kenyan artists.

Read Also: Spotify’s Greasy Tunes Blends Fashion and Music at Nairobi’s Karibu Night