Fadhili William was born in 1938, he was a musician and composer most famous for his song Maiaika, (Angel) which he recorded with his band . Read more…

Fundi Konde was born in 1924 in Mombasa. In the 1955, Konde’s career as a music all-rounder began. After school in 1940, he worked for the Department of Health, and played the guitar at weddings and parties. Read more…

Although his roots were in Western Province, Daudi Kabaka was born in Uganda in 1939 and named after Kabaka Daudi Chwa (right), the Buganda king who died the same year. In 1950, his father, a railway worker, was transferred to Nairobi and Daudi Kabaka joined him. Read more…

Eric Wainaina (born 28 August 1973) is a Kenyan singer-songwriter. His career was launched with his debut album, Sawa Sawa, in 2001. Wainaina’s music is a blend of Kenyan Benga rhythm and East African guitars, with some modern harmony.
Wainaina was born in Nairobi, Kenya, to George Gitau Wainaina and Margaret Wangari Wainaina. He has one brother, Simon Wainaina. His love for music started at a young age. He got a piano at age 4, originally intended for his brother Simon who instead took keen interest in football. Wainaina thus grudgingly took piano lessons. He actively participated in the choir throughout elementary and high school at St. Mary’s School, Nairobi, save for a short stint in basketball. Whilst growing up, Wainaina was influenced musically by international artists such as Papa Wemba, Youssou N’Dour, Lokua Kanza and Paul Simon.

Early career.
Wainaina first stepped into the world of music with Five Alive, a gospel Acappella group. Five Alive consisted of Victor Seii, Bob Kioko, Chris Kamau, and David Mageria, who was replaced by Joe Kiragu. They drew their musical influence from Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Take 6. Dominating Kenya’s airwaves in 1995, Five Alive released their debut album ‘Five Alive’ in 1996, and even went on to tour Europe the same year. His experience with the group convinced Wainaina to pursue a professional career in music. In 1996 he performed and appeared in the video for Get in the Driver’s Seat, a song commissioned by the United Nations Drug Control Programme for a highly successful anti-drug campaign spanning 20 countries. This not only set the stage for his eventual emergence as a solo artist, but also got him into the social concern and activism that characterizes much of his music

When the group disbanded in 1997, Wainaina went on to join the Berklee College of Music in Boston—USA, from which he graduated with a degree in Music, majoring in Songwriting and Record Engineering. He graduated with honours.

During his years at Berklee, Wainaina and his band traveled to different parts of the country to perform, as well as holding regular shows in Boston. Together with his producer, Christian Kaufmann, he worked to produce a sound that would be distinctively Kenyan both in the music and the content of the lyrics. In order to do this, he made sure that he released a new track every time he returned home for vacation, This was well received by his growing fanbase, with his performance at Kenya’s ‘Beats of the Season’ concert in December 2000 being watched live by 15,000 fans and broadcast nationally.

Wainaina married his fiance’ of five years, Sheba Hirst, on February 29, 2008. They have two daughters, Seben, born in April 2006 and Neo born in October 2009.

Studio albums

* 2001 Sawa Sawa
* 2006 Twende Twende
* 2010 Love and Protest

Others

* 2003 Ukweli (single)
* 2004 “Lwanda, Man of Stone” (musical)
* 2006 Kigezi Ndoto (producer & arranger)
* 2006 Owen & Mzee
* 2006 Lwanda – A Ghetto Story (musical)

David Mathenge (born August 1976), better known by his stage name Nameless, is a Kenyan pop artist.

He rose to fame in 1999 through a star-search contest on Kenya’s urban music station 98.4 Capital FM, which he won with his original song “Megarider.” The song was about a penniless young man who is trying to seduce a woman but only has enough money for Kenya Bus tickets, and not the rich lifestyle she desires. He later recorded the track with producer Tedd Josiah and it went on to be hot on the charts for weeks. This was the turning point in his musical career. He went on to sign with the Ogopa DJ’s label in 2001 and collaborated with artists such as the late E-Sir on “Boomba Train,” and Amani on the regional hit “Ninanoki” in 2002 which broke Kenyan chart records by remaining 110 days at number one.

He has gone on to tour across the East African region and in the U.S.A and U.K. In 2004, he released his debut album On Fire. In 2004, Mathenge married Ogopa DJ’s label mate Wahu Kagwi. They have one child, a daughter who was born in 2006. He is also an architect and graduated from the University of Nairobi.

South African pop group Jamali’s wildly popular song “Maisha” was the subject to much scandal. It was alleged that Jamali stole the song from Nameless. However it was settled when Jamali released their CD/DVD of Yours Fatally and credited Nameless as one of the writers of “Maisha”.

He was among the controversial list of the 100 most influential Kenyans as selected by The Standard newspaper in August 2007.

He grew up in Zimmerman suburb of Nairobi. He attended Ainsworth Primary School in Eastleigh, Nairobi and later Highway Secondary School. He teamed up with Vinnie Bantonn forming a duo. They joined the Ogopa DJ’s record label. In 2002 they released the “Wasee (Githurai)” song, which became a national hit in Kenya. The song featured also Mr. Lenny and it was dedicated to Githurai, a suburb in northeastern outskirts of Nairobi. In 2003 they left Ogopa DJ’s record label together with Longombas and Deux Vultures, and formed an own label, Bad Man Camp.

Mr. Googz parted ways with Vinnie Banton in 2004 as both preferred solo careers.Mr. Googz turned from secular to gospel music in 2005. He released his first gospel album His Love in 2006. He has retained his popularity even after the switch to gospel.

Born Issah Mmari, on May 20, 1981 in California Estate, and raised in South c estate Nairobi, Kenya, E-Sir was a Kenyan hip hop artist signed to the Ogopa DJs label who was famous for his deft lyrical ability and command of the Swahili language. He is still widely regarded as one the best rappers to emerge on the Kenyan hip hop scene. He first came to be known in 2001 by his song “Jo”, a song done in the same style as Black Rob’s “Whoa.” The song proudly declared E-Sir’s arrival on the Kenyan music scene and was featured on the Ogopa DJs debut album . He went on to release his debut album “Nimefika” in 2003 which was a big hit with virtually all the songs on the album becoming radio singles. He won 4 categories in the 2003 Kisima Music Awards.

E-Sir died in a road accident on March 16, 2003, while in the company of fellow label mate Nameless. He was on his way back from a concert in Nakuru town that was to help promote the album. His fans were shocked and grieved for days on end after hearing the news of his death. His death was considered coming at a time when his career was starting to take off. His other hits include “Mos Mos,” “Boomba Train,” “Hamunitishi” and “Leo ni Leo.” His only posthumous song was the collaboration between him and Nameless called “Maisha”.

E-sir’s younger brother Habib is also an upcoming rapper in the Kenyan music industry. He has couple of singles to his name, some of them with his partner Manga.

Jua Cali whose real name is Paul Nunda (born September 12, 1979) is a Kenyan MC. In 2000 together with producer Clement Rapudo aka Clemo they founded Calif Records where Jua Cali has stayed since. Jua Cali performs in Swahili in a popular Kenyan style of rapping called genge.

Jua Cali was born Paul Julius Nunda on September 12, 1979 in Eastlands, Nairobi. His parents, Doreen Onditi and Evans Onditi (deceased) were both schoolteachers. Jua Cali grew up with a strict Catholic upbringing in California Estate to the east of Nairobi city. He began rapping at age 10, encouraged by his elder brother Christopher Sati. He was known as an introverted teenager who was often quiet, hardly ever socializing.

He attended Ainsworth Primary School (Standards 1 to 6); Shepherds Junior Buruburu (Standards 6 to 8); Jamuhuri High School and eventually Kenya Christian Industrial Training Institute (K.C.I.T.I) Eastleigh where he received a diploma in Information technology. There, he played basketball with ambitions to make it to the Kenyan National Basketball Team. He never made the team, blaming his height. His earlier foray into music included singing in a band called ‘Sita Futi’. Sita Futi disbanded almost as soon as it was started but for Jua Cali and his close friend Jemmoh. The departing group members left to pursue careers outside music. Calif Records came into being after Jua Cali teamed up with childhood friend Clemo to form the record label that quickly became a hit factory, gaining prominence in the East Africa music scene with chart topping artists and music. Calif Records also invented the Genge genre of Kenyan hip hop. Jua Cali often cites his brother, Chris, and mother as his greatest influences in life.

His first recorded track was Ruka, released in 2001 and was followed by Nipe Asali in 2002. In 2004 He collaborated with Pilipili in track “Kamata Dame”. Like most Kenyan artists, it took several years before his first full album was released. His album “Juacali Sekta” reached the stores in 2006, containing mostly previously released singles.

His single Kwaheri (featuring Sainapei) was a major hit in Kenya in 2007. At the New Year’s Eve 2008/2009 he released a new album, Ngeli ya Genge. He has toured the US and other countries. In August 2007, he was among 100 most influential Kenyans as selected by The Standard newspaper.

His stage name Jua Cali, is derived from California, an estate in Nairobi (as is the name of Calif Records).

It also resembles Jua Kali, a Swahili term meaning fierce sun, which has been taken to refer to Kenya’s informal sector of the economy.