Mp3bullet.ng presents Top 10 Tanzanian artists holding down their spaces in 2021.
When it comes to the East African Music Industry, Tanzanian artists are some of the stars holding it down even in 2021.
These talented acts who sing in English or Swahili are known to be juggernauts on Youtube, amassing millions of streams on their various works.
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Here are the Top 10 Tanzanian artists holding down their spaces in 2021.
10. Ray C
Rehema Chalamila, better known by her stage name Ray C, is a Tanzanian artist. Her musical style is afro-pop, specifically Bongo Flava.
The award-winning artist is a legendary songstress and household name across East Africa. Her instantly recognisable and iconic songs speak of love and include “Mama Ntilie“, “Sogea Sogea“, “Uko Wapi“, “Wanifuatia Nini” among many others.
9. Lady Jaydee
Also referred to as “Lady JayDee in town“, Lady Jaydee was born Judith Wambura Mbibo and specializes in the R&B, Zouk and Afro Pop genres.
She has released several studio albums and hit songs. The Tanzanian songbird has released over eight studio albums with the latest being “20”.
She has 12,495,101 views cumulative views on Youtube.
8. Darassa
Hard spitting hip hop rhyme viper Sharif Thabeet better known as Darassa is a rapper and owner of a management company, Classic Music Group (CMG) Management.
Although he has been in the Tanzanian music industry for a while, he only released his single in 2014, a collaboration with Ben Pol and it was titled, ‘Sikati Tamaa’.
He however shot to prominence when he dropped his huge banger ‘Muziki’ with Ben Pol. This song got him a lot of buzz within and especially outside Tanzania. He created signature lines for people with different lines on this song.
He has an accumulated 68,396,505 views on youtube.
7. Nandy
Faustina Charles Mfinanga, better known as Nandy, is a Tanzanian singer and songwriter.
Referred to the African Princess, She was named the best female musician in East Africa at the All Africa Music Awards twice, in 2017 and 2020.
She has two projects to her credit, an album titled The African Princess(2018) and an EP titled “Wanibariki” released in 2021.
The talented singer also has numerous hits to her credit majority of which has amassed huge streaming numbers on Youtube.
She currently has an accumulated 130,064,804 views on the streaming app.
6. Rayvanny
Raymond Shaban Mwakyusa who is better known by his stage name Rayvanny, is a Tanzanian musician, songwriter and recording artist signed under the WCB Wasafi record label. He is also the founder and CEO of Next Level Music.
Rayvanny came to prominence thanks to his 2016 song “Kwetu“, which introduced him to the world.
In 2016, Rayvanny was nominated for an MTV Africa Music Award in the category of Breakthrough Act. In 2017, he won the BET Viewers Choice category.
He has an accumulated 630,270,158 views on Youtube.
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5. Harmonize
Rajab Abdul Kahali is a Tanzanian Bongo Flava musician and music entrepreneur who goes by the stage name Harmonize. He is also known as Konde Boy, Jeshi, Tembo, Mbunge, and Konde-Mabeyo.
He is well known for his songs “Kwa Ngwaru,” which features Diamond Platnumz, and “Show Me,” which features Rich Mavoko.
He was the first artist to sign a recording contract with Diamond Platnumz’s WCB Wasafi label, and he has since founded his own record company, Konde Music Worldwide.
With 636,695,092 cumulative views on Youtube, Harmonize is one of the top Tanzanian artists who rule Youtube.
4. Zuchu
As the daughter of the revered female Taarab musician Khadija Kopa, Zuchu has quickly risen to become the queen of Bongo Flava after only a year in the music industry.
The Wasafi signed vocalist captured many hearts with her sweeping harmonies on her debut EP, I Am Zuchu, as well as significant collaborations like Cheche and Litawachoma with Diamond Platnumz, Number One with Rayvanny, and Nobody with Nigeria’s Joeboy, all of which soon topped Tanzanian charts.
Zuchu has also received widespread international acclaim, earning her a Grammy nomination and the opportunity to represent East Africa at the BET Soul Train Awards.
YouTube gave her the Silver Plaque Button for reaching 100,000 subscribers in a week. She became the first East African female artist to accomplish that milestone in less than a week.
Eleven months later, she became the first East African female musician to reach one million YouTube subscribers.
She has accumulated a total of 239,588,461 views on Youtube.
3. Khadija Kopa
Khadija Kopa is a Taarab singer, entertainer and actress from Tanzania. She is also known as the ‘Queen of Mipasho or Malkia wa Mipasho.’
She began her musical art back in 1990 with a band known as Culture Musical Club. She is also the mother of Tanazaian buzzing female artist, Zuchu.
2. Ali Kiba
Ali Kiba continues to fly the Tanzanian flag high as one of the country’s best.
Ally Saleh Kiba is a Tanzanian musician, composer, and footballer who goes by the stage name Alikiba. He is the founder and proprietor of the Kings Music label.
Ali Kiba released Cinderella in 2008, which became the best-selling album in East African countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.
Mwana, Aje, Chekecha Cheketua, Cinderella, Nakshi Mrembo, Usiniseme, Dushelele, Single Boy with Lady Jaydee, Mapenzi Yana Run Dunia, and Macmuga are among his most popular songs.
The former Sony Music act has won awards from prestigious award shows like MTV Europe Music Awards Soundcity Awards, AFRIMA, amongst others.
He currently has a cumulative view of 172,377,487 on Youtube.
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1. Diamond Platnumz
Diamond Platnumz maintains his position as the undisputed king of East African music.
Last year, the WCB CEO has had a series of chart-topping successes and notable collaborations, including his record-breaking smash Waah! with Koffi Olomide and Wasted Energy with Alicia Keys, both of which saw him cross international borders.
Aside from tremendous hits, Diamond was considered for a Grammy earlier last year and received an invitation to the Grammy Recording Academy.
This year, he was the only Tanzanian artist nominated for in the “Best International Act” category at the 2021 BET awards.
He has a total of 1,549,951,783 cumulative views on Youtube.
Top 10 Tanzanian artists holding down their spaces in 2021.
10. Ray C
9. Lady Jaydee
8. Darassa
7. Nandy
6. Rayvanny
5. Harmonize
4. Zuchu
3. Khadija Kopa
2. Ali Kiba
1. Diamond Platnumz