Sauti Sol, Akothee, Nyashinski, Otile Brown ranked as Kenya’s best artistes

The top Kenyan artistes of 2018 have been revealed and the Sauti Sol crooners were ranked as the best musicians based on having the most viewed online song of the year.

Research firm, Research 8020 carried out the ranking based on the top rated songs by Kenyan artistes divided into three categories; Platinum (a song with over 100 million online views) Gold (10M-99M online views) and Silver (1M-10M views).

The research was carried out between November 19-30 and used industry experts (radio presenters and DJs) as well as social vetting.

All the artistes ranked in this research were in the Gold category. According to Research 8020, “Artists only counted on the song where they are the lead singer.”

Melanin, featuring Patoranking, the Nigerian reggae-dancehall singer had the most views and helped propel Sauti Sol to the top position.

Controversial gospel artiste Willy Paul came in second with his hit song I do which he collaborated with top Jamaican-American reggae artiste Alaine Laughton.

Another gospel star Mercy Masika is ranked third thanks to her ever-green hit Mwema.

Rapper/singer Nyashinski took the fourth spot thanks to his mega hit Malaika. He was followed by Otile Brown at number five with his Chaguo la moyo which featured singer Sanaipei Tande.

Gospel musician Eunice Njeri’s Nani Kama wewe saw her ranked sixth.

She may have died 11 years ago, but gospel artiste Angela Chibalonza’s music is still very alive with Ebenezer seeing the Congo born star who died in Kenya in 2007 take the seventh spot.

It was a good year for singer Sanaipei Tande who grabbed the eighth spot with her Amina hit.

Gospel star Florence Andanyi is ninth with Kibali being her best rated song.

The no-holds-barred singer Akothee rounds off the top ten list thanks to her collabo songs with Sweet Love feat Diamond, Give it to me feat Flavour, and Oyoyo featt Mc Galaxy.

This research was done between the periods of 19th to 30th November 2018 and the report is currently the only available scientific analysis of popularity of music artistes in Kenya.