Top 50 Most Popular Musicians in East Africa 2023

Last updated on September 4th, 2023 at 03:52 am

Top 40 Most Popular Musicians in East Africa 2022

Who are the top 40 most famous East African musicians in 2023? Check out their names below.

• Victoria Kimani
• Jah Prayzah
• Wyre
• Wahu
• Bobi Wine
• Nameless
• E-sir
• Akothee 
• Mejja
• Eric Wainaina

• Victoria Kimani

Victoria Kimani is a Kenyan singer and songwriter, born on July 28, 1985 (age 37) in Los Angeles, California, United States. 

She began singing at the age of nine and began performing with other church choirs at the age of sixteen, even writing songs for them. 

In 2013, she signed with Nigerian music label Chocolate City and released her first single, Mtoto. 

She is the most influential musician in East Africa, having worked on the song Strong Girl in collaboration with the One Campaign. 

Safari is her debut studio album. China Love (feat. R.City), Prokoto (feat. 

Ommy Dimpoz and Diamond), and Sexy are some of her most popular songs. On Instagram, she has a following of 759 people.

Victoria Kimani’s net worth is $4.5 as of 2022.

• Jah Prayzah

His given name is Mukudzeyi Mukombe. He is a contemporary Zimbabwean musician. 

He is also the lead singer for the band Third Generation. Most of his fans call him Musoja, a Shona word that means “soldier.” 

Jah was born on July 4, 1987, in Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe, Zimbabwe. He is currently 35 years old. 

He began his career in 2005, and in 2007, he released his first commercial album, Sungano. He has ten albums to his credit. 

Mukwasha, My Lilly (featuring Davido), and Dzamutsana are among his most popular songs. 

He has received nineteen awards, including eight NAMA awards. He has 831 Instagram followers.

Jay Prayzah’s net worth is $2 Million as of 2022.

• Wyre

Kevin Waire is an R&B and reggae musician from Kenya. He is Sportpesa’s brand ambassador. He owns the record label Lovechild Records. 

He was previously a member of Necessary Noize. His age and birth date have never been revealed. 

He began his professional career in 1996. He has worked with big names like Cecile, Alaine, and Morgan Heritage. 

His hit songs include Nakupenda Pia (featuring Alaine), She Say Dat (featuring Cecile), and Vile Naskia. 

He has two albums to his credit. He has won four awards among them two Kisima Music Awards. Jah has 104K followers on Instagram.

Wyre’s net worth is $1 million as of 2022. 

• Wahu

Wahu’s full name is Rosemary Wahu Kagwi. She was born in Nairobi, Kenya on March 22, 1980. 

She is currently 42 years. She is a singer, songwriter, former model, actress, and business owner.

She began her music career in 2000, with the release of her first single, Niangalie. 

The song catapulted her to international fame, and she has since become one of the most popular musicians in East Africa. 

Liar, Sitishiki, and Sifa are some of her most popular songs. 

She has five awards, including one MTV Africa Music Awards for Best Female in 2008. She has four studio albums.

Wahus’ net worth is $1 million As of 2022.

• Bobi Wine

Bobi Wine is a Ugandan politician, singer, and actor. His real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu. He was born in Nkozi, Uganda, on February 12, 1982. 

He was a former member of parliament for the Kyadondo County East constituency in Uganda’s Central Region. 

Bobi is the leader of the National Unity Platform political party. He ran for Ugandan president in 2021 but was defeated by Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. 

He began his musical career in the 2000s. Tuliyambala Engule, Kiwaani, and Wendi are some of his most popular songs.

Wine has received nine awards and five other honors, including the Rainbow/PUSH International Humanitarian Award. He has six studio albums. 

He has more than 700K Instagram followers.

Bobi Wine’s net worth is $7.3 as of 2022. 

• Nameless 

David Mathenge is Nameless’s real name. He is the husband of Wahu. He was born in Nairobi, Kenya, on August 1, 1976. 

He is currently 46 years old. He is one musician who will undoubtedly make our list of the top 50 most popular musicians in East Africa in 2022. 

Nameless began his music career in the early 2000s. He is one of the most popular musicians in East Africa, and he has paved the way for many other musicians. 

He has received nine awards, including one MTV Africa Music Award in 2009. 

Butterfly, Nasinzi Nikikuwaza, and Inspire are some of his most popular songs. He has over 1.5 million Instagram followers.

Nameless’snet worth is $1 million as of 2022.

• E-sir

Issah Mmari Wangui is E-sir’s real name. He was born in Nairobi, Kenya on May 20, 1981. 

He was one of the first Kenyan rappers to have a strong command of the Swahili language. 

His music career began in the early 2000s. In 2001, he released his first song, Jo, which helped him gain fame in the music industry. 

He was signed to the record label Ogopa Dejeeys. In 2003, he was involved in a car accident that killed him. 

Even before his death, he was regarded as one of the best rappers to emerge from Kenya’s hip-hop scene. 

He died when he was 21 years old. Moss Moss (featuring Brenda), Kamata, and Hamunitishi are among his most popular songs (ft Talia).

E-sir’s net worth is $1-5 Million before he died.

• Akothee 

Akothee is a Kenyan musician and businesswoman who was born Esther Akoth on April 8, 1983, in Kisumu County, Kenya. She is currently 39+ years old. 

Her musical career began in 2008. She has released hit songs such as Give It To Me (featuring Flavour), Sweet Love (featuring Diamond), and Oyoyo (ft McGalaxy). 

She has received numerous honors, including the African Entertainment Awards USA for Best Female Artist. 

She is the founder and CEO of Akothee Safaris, a Nairobi-based tour and travel company. She has over 3 million followers on Instagram.

Akothee’s net worth is $ 10 million as of 2022. 

• Mejja

Major Nameye Khadija, better known as Mejja, is a Kenyan Genge musician. He was born in Nyeri, Kenya on May 23, 1986. He is currently 36 years old. 

He began singing while still in high school. Together with his brother, they formed a group called Ghetto Clan. 

He made his musical debut in 2008 with the release of his song Jana Kuliendaje. 

Mejja has since released hit songs such as Tabia Za Wakenya, Siskii, and Kanairo Dating. 

He has received numerous awards, including the Chaguo la Teeniz awards in 2008. He has 883 followers on Instagram.

Mejja’s net worth is $2.3 Million. as of 2022.

• Eric Wainaina

Eric Wainaina is a singer-songwriter from Kenya. He was born in Nairobi, Kenya on August 28, 1973. 

He is East Africa’s most popular musician. He is currently 49 years old. 

Eric began his career in 1995 when he joined the gospel acapella group Five Alive. 

The band disbanded in 1997, and Eric Wainaina went to study music at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. 

He earned a music degree with a focus on songwriting and record engineering. 

Wainaina rose to prominence after his song Kenya Only was widely played and adopted as the unofficial song of mourning following the 1998 terrorist bombing in Nairobi. 

He has since released popular songs such as Nchi ya Kitu Kidogo, and Daima Mkenya among others. 

He has four studio albums to his credit. He has received two awards: the Kisima Music Awards and the Kora Awards. He has 21K followers on Instagram. 

Eric Wainaina’s net worth is $1.5 million as of 2022.

Click the NEXT BUTTON to discover 10 more artists on this list.