Kenya: Top gengetone songs of 2020

Kenyans were exposed to the genre in 2018 through the track ‘Lamba Lolo’ by Ethic Entertainment and fell in love with it. However, the single was banned by the Kenya Film Board (KFB) on account that its content promoted irresponsible sexual behaviour among young people.

The following year, Kenyan musicians started the #PlayKeMusic online debate, which condemned local DJs and media outlets for giving more airtime to Afrobeats and bongo flava instead of Kenyan music. The debate provided an avenue for the style to gain further local attention. It received backing from privately owned minibus operators and DJs who began playing gengetone mixtapes. It also went viral on social media.

“Gengetone documents the urban realities of the ghetto,” a fan by the name Miyamoto Musashi wrote on Facebook last year. “Gengetone rappers talk about things they encounter daily. They don’t talk about how dope they are or what cars they are driving; they tell you what they know and experience. That's what I admire about the genre. And the language, sheng [slang], is the vehicle of this authenticity.”

We have curated a playlist of popular gengetone songs released in 2020, featuring well-known groups like Sailors, Ochunglo Family and Boondocks Gang.

Daktari by Ethic Entertainment

Wamocho by Mbogi Genje and Richy Haniel ft. Mejja

'Tiktok' by Boondocks Gang

Deep Down by Rekless

Kidungi by Mbogi Genje

Wagithomo by Joefes and Fathermoh ft. Swat, Exray, Ssaru, Dullah, Mbuzi Gvng

Kuja Mbaya by Mbogi Genje ft. Exray

Wanjiku by Dmore, Benzema and Nellythegoon

Chain Chain by Chris Kaiga

Stingo by Boondocks Gang (Exray), DJ Deklack, Tileh Pacbro, Pitah Scarlet and Shornarway

Lewa by Parroty, Kabagazi, OneBoy and Mejja

Dunda by Sailors

Mpenzi Mtazamaji by Ochunglo Family ft. Kansoul

Make Up by Benzema, Nellythegoon and Dmore

Gengetone Love by Matata

Madhudha na Magwai by Wakuu ft. Breeder LW and Sylvia Sssaru

Sambusa by Addi Chokoch, Dmore, ExRay, Nellythegoon and Maddox

Kalale by Willis ‘Bazu’ Raburu ft. Rekless, Breeder LW, Mejja and Ssaru

Tuko Locked by Dmore, Parroty, Kappy and Mastar VK

Staga Niki Medi by Ethic Entertainment

Zungushiwa by Ssaru and Shay Diva

Hainishtui by Boondocks Gang and Kansoul

Banger by Blacowp and Willis ‘Bazu’ Raburu

Missed Call by Breeder Call

Wakiritho by Octopizzo ft. Sailors

Dondoka by Ethic Entertainment

Sote by Rekless ft. Mejja

Foto Moto by Noti Flow and Benzema

Sidonyo by Boondocks Gang

Weekendy by Sailors