Why Kenyan Music is Nothing Compared to that from Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda & Tanzania

Back in the 60s up until early 90s Kenya was
the yardstick of Africa music. As an African
artist if you didn't record or release your
single/album in Nairobi then would have
started counting losses. It's not a wonder why
the likes of the late Tabu Ley, Mbilia Bel, Koffi,
the late Franco, Defao (who I hear lives in
Dandora, but that's story for another day) and
other accomplished African artists sang about
Kenya or mentioned Kenya in their songs.
Kenya ndo ilikua kusema (as our social media
guru, Chege, puts it).

Fast-forward to the new millennium. Kenya's glory
in the music scene is fast dwindling and less and
lesser artists are making their way here. Kenyan
music videos are no longer getting airplay on
Africa's biggest music channel, Channel O (tell me
of any 5 Kenyan music video you've recently seen
playing on Channel O and I'll buy you a crate of
quail eggs).

Just like that we've witnessed Nigeria rise from just
an oil-rich company into an African powerhouse
for music and movies; and nothing is stopping
them. Just like Kwaito is now a mainstay in our
clubs and deejays' mixtapes. Just like we are now
aping the bongo-style of singing (Gospel
notwithstanding).

But really what's ailing this once very lucrative
industry? Here's what I think is;

1. Lack of unity:

Which genre can we brag about as our identity in
music? South Africans have kwaito, Tanzanians
have bongo. But here...! every record label is
emerging with its own style to outdo the other.
Instead of concentrating on producing quality
music they compete on who has the latest genre/
sub-genre!

Meanwhile as we are mark-timing our African
counterparts are reaching new horizons. You can't
compare even in your dreams Kenyan music to
Naija's, Bongo or Kwaito. Never!

Instead of artists working together to see the
prosperity of this industry, they're busy tearing
each other down.

There are cartels fully in operation that ensure
certain artist(s) makes it/ doesn’t make it in the
industry. And if you thought it was a joke think
again. These cartels pay some of the top radio
hosts not to play music from certain record labels
or artists. Yes, it's deep-rooted like that.

These cartels are anchored so deep that they even
exist in the Gospel scene. Kwanza I'm made to
understand that it's worse there before if you
don't belong to a certain faction your hopes of
making it as a Gospel singer are as good as
dashed.

This disunity has killed a lot of artists' careers who