The ten music videos in this playlist present the music that inspired the topic of this Norient City Sounds Special. Some, such as «Ganji» by King Kaka are examples of popular current music addressing heavy political themes, while others are a sort of antithesis. All of them are a great sample of the music of the city in early 2022, complemented by visuals that give us an added perspective that corroborates a lot of what has been written or spoken about elsewhere in this edition. A vivid portrait of Nairobi emmerges, with the social and political ambiguities in sharp relief against a vital youthful energy.
Music: King Kaka
Video: Dambiz & King Kaka
Track: «Ganji (Episode 1)» (Kenya, 2021)
The first of six videos all themed around «Ganji» – Sheng for money – was released following King Kaka’s earlier, much-discussed «Wajinga nyinyi – You fools» (see essay by Joyce Nyairo). It was quickly followed by the other similarly hard-hitting videos, which had me interested in why a popular artist known for more regular club fare was suddenly making such «serious», even provocative music.
Music: Wakadinali
Video: Chebeni
Track: «Extra Pressure» (Kenya, 2020)
Wakadinali (and Buruklyn Boyz) are the most prominent of the latest hip hop crews from Nairobi’s Eastlands, maintaining a musical legacy going back to the early days of Kalamashaka (listen to the «Urban Legends» podcast). The members of this group were likely not even born when K’Shaka were inventing Swahili/Sheng rap, and yet here we are today, a group of young virtuoso MC’s making catchy, infectious music and speaking up about the pressures of life in Nairobi’s East, in the language of its streets.
Music: Nelly the Goon x Nameless x Habib x Dmore x Trio Mio
Video: M.O.N.S.K.I.
Track: «Bandana Ya Esir» (Kenya, 2022)
An all-star lineup of the artists that defined the «Boomba» era – see essay by Lutivini Majanja – reunite in this tribute to the late, great champion of the sound, E-Sir, almost 18 years after his passing in a road accident. The inclusion of rising star Trio Mio, only 16, alongside the veterans, suggests that the South C/Nairobi West party might not be over just yet.
Music: Kimani Sunz
Video: Johnson Kyalo
Track: «Touch the Road» (Kenya, 2021)
The scenes from this video are as honest a picture of real-life Nairobi as any you’ll see. Kimani, a rapper/singer/producer based in Kenya and Norway, and the director Johnson Kyalo, captures the soul of the city in its everyday struggle, with humanity, dignity and beauty. Complement with Emma Nzioka’s photo series.
Music: Kitu Sewer x Maovete
Video: Gufy
Track: «Fun Faya Kun» (Kenya, 2021)
Kitu Sewer, a veteran of the Kalamashaka Mau Mau hip hop family, is one of the most gifted and respected rappers in Kenya, regularly named as the greatest ever to rap in Kiswahili/Sheng. In 2021, he teamed up with Maovete, a young and exciting new fusion band to release the album Kiswahealing. In this video, they speak about issues related to health, both mental and physical.
Music: Sewersydaa x Adrian Loci x Laura Stacy
Video: not.Irac
Track: «Najishuku» («Visualizer») (Kenya, 2021)
The realities, dreams, and nightmares of life in Nairobi for many young people unfold in this whimsical yet dark animation by affiliates of Wakadinali. Painted starkly are the frustration with police, government, and other holders of authority.
Music: Ben C
Video: Dan G Frames
Track: «Ningekua God» (Kenya, 2022)
Kenyans are a religious lot, there is a church around every corner in Nairobi. The choice of Christian imagery is thus easy to understand, but rather than preach, Ben C uses humor to speak to typical personal and domestic issues. As with the other videos in this list, the visuals take you inside the neighborhoods where most of us live in this hyped up «global city» of ours.
Music: Juliani
Video: Eli Lang’at, Kassim Said, Kevin Mahatma
Track: «Mabawa» (Kenya, 2022)
Another one of the most respected rappers from the city, Juliani famously converted to Christianity soon after appearing in the classic Kilio Cha Haki album alongside K’Shaka and other members of the Mau Mau school. Religion did not dampen his conscious fervor, if anything it gave Juliani’s music an even greater sense of a mission. In this track, Juliani speaks about the weight of responsibility – «Only an angel knows how heavy the wings weigh». Read my recollection of a day with Juliani at Dandora HipHop City.
Music: Naiboi x Femi One
Video: Trey Juelz
Track: «Jam» (Kenya, 2022)
Nairobi still loves a catchy sing-along party song, a tried and tested formula from the days of E-Sir and Ogopa Deejays. This jam ticks all the boxes, but the reason I like it is mostly to do with the video, a faithful depiction of a kibanda – the common roadside eateries and food vendors, and a comedy style reminiscent of classic old Kenyan TV comedy.
Music: Buruklyn Boyz (Ajay Namba & Mr Right)
Video: Omoke
Track: «Dream Ya Kutoka Kwa Block» (Kenya, 2021)
Buruklyn is Buru-Buru, a relatively well-to-do middle-class neighborhood in Nairobi’s Eastlands. And yet, these rappers at the top of the hip hop and drill scene alongside their peers Wakadinali, speak about the desire, the ambition, even the need to make an exodus from here to somewhere better. The serious tone with which they speak on this track gets my attention.
Bonus Tracks
Music: MC Sharon
Video: Johnson Kyalo
Track: «Kutupanga» (Kenya, 2017)
This video is from 2017, the last time we had our elections. Back then, MC Sharon was addressing politicians and the typical electioneering bullshit. Four years later, facing another election, every last syllable spoken by Sharon is relevant. You could play this song every four years unchanged. Listen to MC Sharon in the «Nairobi Surround» podcast.
Music: Kalamashaka
Video: The Storyteller
Track: «Moi Avenue» (Kenya, 2014)
The T-shirt worn by the dancer in the last frame was a favorite of mine. The video equipment was lent to us for free by my friend Muchiri Njenga of Studio Ang. My other friend Robin «The Storyteller» shot and edited. Adam Chienjo, the choreographer, was at the beginning of his journey in contemporary dance. We paid about $20 for security, from some «associates» of Johnnie and Roba – the Kalamashaka members who were in Nairobi at the time. This was supposed to be the return of K’Shaka after years of hiatus. Sadly, it turned out to be a false dawn. Still, the video and song with its hook «On this side of Moi Avenue/We do not pay revenue» (reference to the Kenya Revenue Authority) present a powerful picture of Nairobi in my opinion. Here is a video of the day we launched the video, seven years ago.
