Kenyan musicians with most views on YouTube. Vernacular singers are shining.

The popularity of musical artists is determined by the number of fans who follow their music for example on YouTube. With that said, below is a compilation of Kenyan musicians with highest number of views on YouTube (80 million and above) irrespective of the language that they sing in.

1. Otile Brown (357.7 million views)

Jacob Obunga famously known as Otile Brown not only leads in the number of YouTube views but also subscribers (1.35 million subscribers). The 29 year-old R&B singer is indeed the King of Kenyan musical landscape. With hit songs such as ‘Chaguo la Moyo’, ‘Baby love’ and so on, Otile has grown musically to become a sensational hit maker, loved by the multitude to an unfathomable magnitude.

Otile Brown. Source: Standard Entertainment

A screen grab of Otile Brown’s YouTube channel

2. Sauti Sol (310.1-Million views, 1.06-Million subscribers)

With a music career spanning nearly two decades, the Kenyan boy band consisting of Bien Baraza, Willis Chimano, Savara Mudigi and Polycarp Otieno holds the second place as far as YouTube views are concerned. Having done countless hit songs and collaborations with numerous international musicians from Africa and beyond, they are undoubtedly among the top influential musicians across the region.

3. Bahati (238.4-Million views, 1.27M subscribers)

Kevin Kioko takes the third place among Kenyan musicians with highest number of views on YouTube. The gospel-cum secular artist rose to fame with hits such as ‘Mama’ and ‘Barua’, and managed to capture the attention of his fans to date with the continuous release of good music.

4. Willy Paul (233.3-Million views, 1.13-Million subscribers)

Wilson Abubakar Radido follows Bahati closely with a difference of just 5 million views. Co-incidentally, he also changed course from gospel to secular just like Bahati. He first rose to limelight following his collaboration with Gloria Muliro in a number of songs and quickly stepped-up to become one of the most popular Kenyan musicians.

5. Shiru Wa GP (133.7-million views, 451-thousand subscribers)

The Kikuyu gospel songstress takes the 5th position when it comes to YouTube views. With a melody that wows many and beautiful praise songs, she is undoubtedly the most followed gospel artist in Kenya today.

6. Nyashinski (123.7-million views, 613K subscribers)

Nyamari Ongegu, commonly known Nyashinski is indeed a popular rapper, singer and songwriter in the Kenyan music industry. Despite starting his music career as a hardcore rapper in the early 2000s, he later on diversified into other forms of music apart from just rapping. He is famous for hits such as ‘Malaika’ and ‘Namwogopa Mungu’.

7. John De’Mathew (121.4-million views, 397K subscribers)

John Ng’ang’a Mwangi was a legendary Kikuyu Benga artist whose music still rocks on despite passing on in a road accident in 2019, a classical example showing that grave isn’t the limit. With hit songs such as ‘Wega Wa Mundu’, he will for generations be remembered for his great impact to Kenyan music.

8. Stephen Kasolo (107.7-million views, 545K subscribers)

Singing in Kamba, Swahili and even English, the Kenyan gospel singer and songwriter has risen from humble beginnings to become the eighth most viewed Kenyan musician on YouTube.

9. Guardian Angel (105.4-million views, 528K subscribers)

Oli Bohm, stage name Guardian Angel is a talented Kenyan Gospel artist famous for songs such as ‘Nimependa’. He not only uplifts souls through melodious music but also aims at pulling people closer to God.

10. Khaligraph Jones (99.2-million views, 781K subscribers)

Brian Ouko Omollo is definitely the most popular Kenyan rapper known for hit songs such as ‘Champez’, ‘Kamnyweso’, and gospel songs such as ‘Sifu Bwana’. Amidst difficulties, he has defied all the odds to become one of the most influential artists and even won an award for ‘Best Rapper in Africa’ in 2018 AFRIMMA Awards.

10. Phyllis Mbuthia (94.1-million views, 307K subscribers)

Phyllis Mbuthia is a renowned Kikuyu gospel artist who has taken the Kenyan gospel industry by storm. Despite her YouTube channel having been taken down maliciously sometimes back, she has managed to get it back and it’s business as usual.

11. Prince Indah (87.05-million views, 387K subscribers)

Evance Ochieng, considered by many as the king of Ohangla music takes the 11th position as far as YouTube views are concerned. He is famous for hit songs such as ‘Adhiambo'(featuring Bahati) and ‘asiye kupenda achana naye’ among others and has worked his way up from humble beginnings to a star.

Sources

Vidooly

Wikipedia

YouTube