In this article, Deeds Magazine highlights some of the brightest stars from a rapidly-growing region. While the global cultural conversation orbits around Afrobeats and Amapiano sub-cultures successful emergence, East Africa’s arch is covertly unfolding. From the fire-spitting Sony Music East Africa signee Young Lunya, to Uganda’s vibrant Altè architects, to Kenya’s front-facing media personalities and curators, here are Deeds Magazine’s unbridled EA avant-garde artisans on the rise.
A multidisciplinary luminary, Chxf Barry is a Kampala-based visual and performing artist. Famed for his wavy and warm production, Chxf Barry was elected to prominence following his 2021 “Arresting Food (remix)” that has become a staple in the bubbling Ugandan indie scene. A frequent collaborator, Barry has teamed up with a bevy of Ugandan tastemakers including but not limited to Sente, MAUIMØON, mau from nowhere, Lagum the rapper, Tungi and more. His trajectory is on the ascent as heard on his latest offering, ‘Pleasure Pack (241)’ that grosses two records that embody his lush, spacey, and feel-good cuts.
A queer savant, non-binary hyphenate Bakhita is a dynamic creative that hails from Nairobi. From music production and performing, spatial & set design, and visual artistry - Bakhita is carving a name for themselves. Bakhita has been featured on legacy publications such as Vogue Italia, and is heralded with being a hyper-progressive artist. Musically, Bakhita is carving a lane for queer artists in Nairobi through their bluesy afro-jazz and psychedelic-infused soundscapes, and is credited for being a leading voice in Nairobi’s LGBTQ community. Visually, their spatial design has been impactful working as a set designer for events such as Kilifi New Years, a succinct and fun-filled festival that attracts over 6,000 attendees in three nights under the leafy beaches in the Kenyan Coast, as much as other corporate gigs have been chamipned and celebrated in high regard. Bakhita will be unveiling their fifth studio project this year.
Los Angeles-based KayCyy needs no introduction. Signed to heritage-first record label Columbia Records via Akon’s brother, Abou Thiam’s Bu Vision - KayCyy is a well-decorated artist on the cusp of A or B-List stardom. Having notched songwriting credits on smash songs including Ye’s “Hurricane” featuring Lil Baby and The Weeknd, KayCyy was an integral part of Ye’s 2021 Grammy-winning ‘Donda’ album. KayCyy has multiple songwriting credits for superstars Travis Scott, Lil Wayne, Justin Beiber - but to name a few. With a bullish pen game and a rasp to his voice reminiscent of Atlanta powerhouse, Future, KayCyy is tipped to be the next big thing in music.
It’s easy to wax lyrical about Aunty Awa. Plausibly one of the most edgy fashion designers in Africa contemporarily, art purveyor Awa is pushing the needle. Her March capsule dubbed ‘Absumo’ , which is a Latin word that means “consumption”, Awa showcased why she is heads and shoulders above. From casting, to the craftsmanship, color ways, and the conviction evoked through the clothes, atelier designer Awa marveled. Still relatively a novice in Nairobi’s burgeoning fashion scene, Awa will be in the same conversations as protagonist Mowa Lola if she can keep her momentum high.
UK-based crooner $hyli is one to watch. Following bubbling singles such as “Toxic Love” and the emoter’s 2023 opus ‘Music for the Soul’ - $hy has been on the radar of music lovers galore. His poignant story telling over the backdrop of blended sounds including R&B, Reggae, Soul, Hip-Hop and more - he describes his sound as ‘Shylisound’. As today’s soundscape goes genreless, $hyli embodies this mantra, and has made a name for himself being as defiant as ever musically.
Ugandan auteur Senté is a fast-rising Ugandan singer, songwriter, vocalist, recording and performing artist. His sound is at the intersection of R&B, Hip-Hop, Afro-Pop, and is laden with velvety melodies that sound crisp at best. His recent debut EP ‘Wasted Love’ mirrors his cinematic narrative-writing with strong cuts such as the love-laden “Bad For You”, or the charming bop “Kampala Woman”. His untamed range allows him to express himself in an array of sounds, and he will be a maven in the music industry as East Africa continues to announce itself. With Alt R&B fashioned as the “it” genre in East Africa currently, Senté is at the fore of its ascent.
Art collective 199x Org consisting of Mbaalamwezi, Kennedy Mirema, Dalton Odiyo, and Odede are the art contingent shaping perception of East Africa through media and technology. The quartet occupy verticals in film, production, styling, photography, fashion and more. This renegade faction has produced immersive advertising content for trendsetting cultural brands such as Daily Paper, I AM Isigo, Ikeno Clothing, Moshions, Nike and many more. Individually, they are just as effective with Dalton styling for media publications such as Colors, while Mbaalamwezi is an astute creative director. Equally, Mirema and Odede possess a potent wizardry behind the lens and in front of the camera too. The art mavericks continue to display striking levels of execution and communication through each production they have their hands on.
With the rise of femme rap in the global lexicon, it’s not a surprise that a Kenyan storyteller in the vein of Vallerie Muthoni is on the list. After catching a hit song with her baddie-centric anthem “Sexy” alongside NJERI and Kxffy from Nairobi, Vallerie isn’t resting on her laurels. Although her releases are few and far between, quality over quantity are the core values Vallerie tends to lean on. Her upcoming EP ‘Vision 2020’ is fast beckoning and Vallerie has already pulled in a viral anthem with “Sexy” as she promises to push the needle with her forthcoming release. If you’re into some gruesome raps with a tinge of melody, Vallerie is a gateway to the Neo-Nairobi and East African Alternative sound.
Sultry Kenyan Alt-R&Bstress Maya Amolo is a firebrand from Nairobi. Her music is sticky and broods a spectrum of emotions. With two full-length LP’s under her belt ‘Asali’ and ‘Leave Me at the Pregame’, Maya has centered herself as one of the most transcending vocalists from East Africa. Featured on Colors late last year along a swarm of achievements, Maya is dubbed as Kenya’s poster child of their second generation of Alt R&B after songstress, Karun. Maya’s honeyed vocal inflections, to her sensual baddie sounds and ability to never miss gets her a ticket to this list.
Brandished as East Africa’s crown jewel, Lunya is on the runway to a highly successful rap career. On his star-studded album ‘Mbuzi’, which stands for ‘G.O.A.T’ an acronym for the Greatest of All Time, he recruits international raconteurs such as UK’s Dutchavelli alongside country mates Abigail Chams, Marioo and others. With a herculean title, it’s a lot of pressure to live up to - something he effortlessly glides over. Holding his own on the album, this moment of reckoning has been long-brewing for Lunya who has over the years combined artistic music videos, relentless grit, and gargantuan freestyles that have catapulted him as a premium emcee. A rapper’s rapper and now a radio-friendly hit-making magnet, Lunya has set his eyes on continental reckoning and the Hennessy Cypher 2024 emphasizes that he is on the right path.
