Do You Remember These Songs?

Over the years the Kenyan music industry has witnessed immense growth with musicians emerging with better quality music. However, there are those songs which were great hits and can hence be attributed for having shaped this industry. Here they are;

UNBWOGABLE
Done by Gidi Gidi and Maji Maji in 2002, the song was a boom in the country with all radio stations playing it. So big was the song that NARC used it as its official campaign anthem. The two musicians definitely attribute their career success to this track. The song even introduced new sheng words in the country like bwogo i.e. You can’t bwogo me.

BOOMBA TRAIN
This was yet another hit that dominated the airwaves in a major way. Nameless and E-Sir (RIP) topped the charts with this track besides keeping Kenyans busy on the dance floors of various clubs around the country.

NINANOKI
Once again, Nameless, having had success with Boomba Train, joined forces with singer Amani to do this great masterwork. This is another single that rocked Kenyans in 2003 topping capital charts for a record 110 days.

COMPE
Believe or not, this work of genius earned rapper Bamboo a six figure fortune, thanks to its fame. This track rocked local stations in the year 2004 and was even used in the movie Prime Evil.

KERORO
Off the album “Hanyaring Game”, Keroro was a stunning success prompting producers like Wawesh to come with refixes to the track. The genius behind this was Nonini (the godfather).

KIASI
If you remember correctly, this is the song that propelled genge artist Juacali to stardom. This particular track was one of those that unleashed Calif Records’ potential apart from dominating the airwaves in both clubs and radio stations across the nation.

HAIYA
This song made Kenyans “fall in love”. Even though done in Kikuyu, the song broke ethnic barriers and earned Harry Kimani awards for song of the year and best video at the Kisima Awards. He was also nominated as the best promising artist during the 2005 Kora Awards.

SINZIA
Nameless was back again in 2006 with this huge track. This time, he decided make Kenyans fall in love again after “episodes of Harry Kimani”. This song was another great hit that and received massive airplay. With lyrics like nasinzia nikikuwaza… one was sure to get carried away by the song.

BANJUKA
This, in all probability was one of the biggest tracks of the decade. Rapper DNA got everyone dancing to this tune from young’uns to the first lady. DNA received a number of accolades from East Africa, thanks to his club-banger. The track was even used by PNU as its campaign machinery.

So, as we revere contemporary musicians let’s not forget what made this industry.