The Kenyan music scene is growing bigger, bolder, and louder with each passing year. Fresh acts are popping up and artists who have been steadily grinding to put out more and better music, are slowly getting the recognition they have been working hard towards. With each new year, there is a new opportunity for artists in the Kenyan music industry to boost their profiles, grow their fanbase, and capture the attention of the listening audience, much like Njerae, the Kenyan artist who has captured the essence of Kenyan R&B with hit songs such as OTD, Aki Sioni, Beg For It, and many more. In August 2024, Njerae signed a record deal with Universal Music Group (UMG) East Africa.

In this article we spotlight 5 Kenyan artists you should look out for in 2025. If you’re not listening to them already, you may want to get acquainted.

1. 4MR Frank White

With the January 2025 release of his latest album Taigwa Goma, Kenyan rapper 4MR Frank White is #1 on our 2025 watch list. The Kahawa West hailing Kenyan artist, who has collaborated with industry mainstays like Lil Maina and Ajay from the Buruklyn Boyz, is known for his unique delivery and vivid imagery in his lyrics to capture the attention of anyone listening. His latest album deals in genres such as hip hop, Arbantone, and Afro R&B to showcase his versatility as an artist. Since the release of his debut album, Definition: Real One in 2023, he has developed as an artist with underground hits such as the single titled Alicia Keys, which featured Lil Maina. With four albums in 3 years, an enviable work ethic, and the ability to write catchy songs that don’t feel generic, 4MR Frank White is poised to have a big year that will continue to elevate his profile within the music industry and to music lovers. If you don’t believe the hype, check out his album Taigwa Goma and see whether you won’t be converted.

2. Kinoti

Kinoti is a familiar name for many Kenyan music fans. The singer is well known for his melancholic melodies which deal with love, heartbreak, and the messy in-between. Kinoti had a great 2023, releasing two EPs and having the hit single, Nitangoja, which became the soundtrack of every wedding video package you saw on social media.

In 2024 Kinoti took a hiatus to complete the advocate training program at the Kenya School of Law, only releasing two singles in the year. 2025 presents a big opportunity for Kinoti to bounce back and reclaim his place on the pantheon of Kenya’s saddest songwriters. Now that he is free from his academic commitments, expect more ballads that tug on your heartstrings and make you miss that one ex that you definitely shouldn’t be missing. Kinoti is one of Kenya’s most recognisable artists, belting out successful sad songs that explore the full spectrum of romantic emotions and you should expect nothing less this year.

3. DJ. Mura

You only need to look at an events calendar to appreciate the popularity of Afro-house and Amapiano in Nairobi. Almost every weekend there’s an event curated to fit the log drum vibes of Amapiano and the head-bobbing drops of Afro-house. These events have come to be popularly referred to as “oontz”. The surging growth in popularity of the two genres has even given rise to venues that are exclusively tailored to them, such as Koda and Muze Club.

With growing popularity at home in the late 20 nineteens and early 2020s, local artists and producers started tapping into Afro-house and Amapiano music infused with a Kenyan twist. Among these artists was DJ Mura. The DJ and Producer based in Nairobi, is known for his fan-loved releases in the Afro-house and Amapiano genres. He is a mainstay performer on popular platforms such as Aduma, Magharibi Express and even performed at Blankets and Wine in 2024. In his latest release titled Sema, DJ Mura weaves influeces from Afro house, Benga and Folk music and delivers a track that everyone agrees is bumping heavy.

With a discography that dates back to 2019, DJ Mura has slowly become one of the most reliable Afro house and Amapiano producers in East Africa. His releases includes the Murastar Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 EPs which are a tasting menu for Kenyan Afro house. The EPs feature collaborations with various artists including Polaris Pauline who is famous for the smash hit Umenitosha. In 2024, DJ. Mura released his collaborative EP, Nyumbani, together with Ally Fresh, who is also a DJ and producer.

The project was a melding of genres, bringing together some of Kenya’s most popular vocalists such as Bensoul, Njerae, Watendawili and several others. With his current trajectory, it would be within reason to declare 2025 to be the year of Murastar.

4. We are Nubia

The dynamic girl group known as We Are Nubia has been a welcome breath of fresh air from the beginning when they released their debut single Usiku na Mchana in 2022. Maggie and Gloria, the duo that makes up We are Nubia, came together with a shared passion for music and the goal of creating a sound that is both authentic and relatable. The girl group is carrying on the spirit of groups such as Gal Level, Tattuu, and Kiu, keeping the spirit of girl groups in Kenyan music alive. Their music is rooted in themes of love, loss, and resilience and has a deep commitment to their cultural roots, with Swahili being a major factor in their music and storytelling.

From their first single in 2022, they have nurtured a loyal fanbase that has followed them from the beginning to their breakout single, Niko Sawa, which was released in 2024. And while they still haven’t released a full project there is no doubt that 2025 is the year that more people will sit up and take notice of the group.

5. Iyanah

An artist who can be best described as a Swiss army knife, Iyanah is a Nairobi-based, Diani-raised singer who is on a mission to take over the world. The singer who has collaborated with various artists and producers such as M. Rumbi, Supadrum, and Mad Clan is known for her sultry voice and infectious lyrics. An active songwriter from an early age, she made the jump from writing to recording in 2021 with the release of her first single, 4 U. Since then her career has grown in leaps and bounds with popular releases such as Mr. Sneaky Link, Diani, and Truth, all of which have been well received and even made it on the editorial playlists on various streaming platforms. Iyanah has intimated that she is working on her first full-length project which will hopefully be released to the public this year.

In addition to releasing music, Iyanah has been active on the live performance scene in Nairobi with various shows across the city in recent months. The Kenyan artist performed in Kampala, Uganda in 2024 for her first-ever international show. With a slow but sure approach to releasing music, a growing fan-base and a burgeoning profile within the music industry, Iyanah is perfectly positioned to have her biggest year yet in 2025.