How Kenyan DJs have propelled the new sound

Image: DJ Joe Mfalme

In the beginning of the year, several Kenyan artists faulted local media houses and DJs for curtailing their growth by not playing their songs.

Also read: Stop looking for content from new-age musicians!

Led by rapper Khaligraph Jones, the musicians claimed the aforementioned parties favoured Bongo and Naija music at the expense of Kenyan music.

That was then. Eight months down the line and the tables have turned in favour of local musicians, especially the new-age artists.

DJ Creme

Local music is played on heavy rotation so much so that songs from outside Kenya are almost unheard of and I know you must be wondering how it happened.

The way I see it, we have local DJs to thank. The have played a big part in propelling the new Kenyan sound and getting people back to appreciating Kenyan music.

Initially, the mainstream media couldn’t touch songs by the new-age artists. Apart from they were vulgar and lacked content, their videos were also terrible.

This meant that songs like Ethic’s Lamba Lolo, which was very popular at the time, could only be played in clubs and radio stations that didn’t really give a hoot.

As such, DJs ensured their playlists were made up of the songs that had been given a black out by the mainstream media and the songs became even more popular.

DJ Mista T

With time, TV stations that were initially avoiding the new-age artists had to bow to pressure since it was what everyone was requesting for.

Today, the Kenyan music rules the airwaves!

About this writer:

David Kingsley

Comme ci, comme ça [email protected]