This crop of budding young and highly talented creatives will be heavily relied on to propel the arts sector into greatness this new decade, writes ALFAYO ONYANGO

Ayrosh

With a rich multilingual sound, Collins Irungu aka Ayrosh is the grooviest urban pop vernacular singer in Kenya.

After his critical first project Murasta that boasted hypnotic rhythms, tasty melodies and showboating assurance of lyricism and vocals, this is a superstar in the flesh.

With the appropriate backing, we might be holding on to a worldly music discovery just so well.

Kahu$h

Currently the hottest and most refreshing new hip-hop artiste in the 254 with the contagious Mi Siwezi hit song ringing all over the net and streets, the viral act is elevating himself to the apex of a celebrity status.

Shaking up the status quo with a seven-track debut project dubbed Trial and Error released mid 2019, the rapper made a triumphant entry with bouncy melodic instrumentals and a husky vocal tone turning doubters to believers in a flash. He carries the hopes of a generation with his new sound. 

Nene K

The ‘K’ stands for King. The lyricist has been on the cutting edge as a bonafide wordsmith. Still largely considered an enigma to the larger divide, his stamp on hip-hop has been compared to American rapper J Cole up.

Co-signs from veterans such as Kayvo K-Force and genge godfather Jua Cali have earned him a couple glances from the locals, but his fire is yet to ignite fully, at least in the mainstream corridors.

With a verse yet to go wrong when he graces the microphone, skeptics have been launched at the exciting reticent prospect with his unorthodox ‘boom bap’ style.

However, the word-bending storyteller might be forced to step out of his introspective nature to get that notoriety he desperately needs. 

Darina Agasaro Anstis

With Rwandese heritage with the alter ego Madusa Karma has been a riddled emerald of a gem in the underground cultural Nairobi art confines.

The photographer, model and fashion stylist received praises for styling American neo-punk music duo Oshun’s East music video last year flaunting her edgy fashion sense. She’s expected to make other big moves this year and decade.

Khalid Ramirez

A visual artist whose output is cored around images with pragmatic frames, eye-candy portraits, digestible lighting, calculated silhouettes, moody colour ways, the beauty behind the madness is hardly inevitable.

The journey from photographer to a video storyteller has been absolute and a bold move to step out of a perceived comfort zone.

Still getting his feet wet, his labour was paraded for the world to see in an established Blinky Bill’s Atenshan music video, which deliberately acted as an elaborate advertisement to his already kosher expertise as an image builder rather than a moving picture designer.

Also flexing his creative muscle, he dabbles up as a music producer by the moniker Half Baked curating moving electronic music, mastering in loud bass beats and symphonic synths that are oddly drawing.

Cherie Mwangi

Crowned as a predecessor to Norway-based Kenyan femcee Stella Mwangi, Cherie is a sassy act that can rap.

From trilingual flows that consist of Norwegian-Kiwahili-English lingo, just as STL, only that the latter quadruples it with smacking Kikuyu flows, she is eccentric and packs a valiant demeanor that commands attention.

After the collaborative effort towards the end of 2019, Wallahi Remix solidified and knighted her as the new golden child of the rap culture to look out for.

At 19, she has a lot to learn, but with that arouse and prowess on the music dimension, her will and guidance from her mentors can steer her to greatness, putting her in a pole position to wow her legion of fans.

Bakhita Sheni

The Nairobi-based unconventional painter is in the equation of progressive and vivid visual translators alongside greats such as Seba Wali.

Her choice of expression is abstract art where she channels her deepest inner-most thoughts on subjects that touch on femininity, individuality, divinity, spirituality as well as sensitive topics that can pierce into one’s soul through detailed messaging, patterns, coordinated lining and brain-catching hues.

Besides her virtuoso on the paintbrush, she sings, writes, performs, directs and designs show stages to complete an unparalleled all-roundedness.

Lost in Savanna

Also known as James Bow, Lost in Savanna is one of the most hedonist creatives in Kenya’s arts and cultural domain.

A musician, creative director, graphic designer, video editor and co-founder of art collective On Different Dimensions, he is an organic jack-of-all-trades.

The forte to develop ideas into tangible and consumable audiovisual items through sound or pictures has been instilled and entrusted to this gifted individual.

His personal projects for acts such as Shappaman, Maverick Itumo, Jinx, Muddah and a vast number of corporate companies are but some of his few and far between archives that market his expertise.

Brian Bett

An architect in modelling charm, the London-based Kenyan art student has an incredible creative head on his shoulders and is capable of creating ecstasy.

A youthful and zesty approach, he collides street fashion culture with surreal editing techniques, and in this respect he is second to none.

Bett’s art identity incorporates different fabrics to his skill set to deliver a myriad of easily identical imagery, yet very individualistic and vibrant.

His lush techniques have enabled him privilege to create artsy moments such as Bey T music videos in Wololo and If They Donno.

But it is his conceptually directed still picture works that make him stand out in a crowded discipline, especially domestically.

Camille Storm

Kenya’s most polarising music writer of this generation has already ticked many journalists’ ambitions of working with the crème of international media such as The Fader, Okay Africa and Apple Music, just to name a few.

You either love or hate her for her vast knowledgeable breadth in matters music that will expose your ignorance.

Born Angela Kariuki, 23, is syndicated to international music companies such as Universal Music Group and Mavin Records, among more grandeur companies that swam to her for counsel and key decisions related to music and arts direction and review.

The young music mogul has never shied away from her massive potential and responsibility.

Clint Malik

When non-domestic international publications such as Vogue Magazine take note of your work, to the point they fly in to document your process and cover your background, you are a force to be reckoned with.

The 22-year-old groundbreaking model, designer and creative director has represented Kenya whole-heartedly standing up for young Kenyans that are branded cool kids or at worst, pariahs, and even Western sell outs for not befitting society’s typicality.

With countless projects under his name, his biggest strength is swimming against the tide. 

Iona McCreath

African high fashion line Kiko Romeo’s current young head designer comes off as a naïve fit for the imprint, but be prepared to eat your words, just in case.

The company that is slightly older than she is, founded in 1996, proves that her credentials are razor sharp to be vitally piled on responsibility for a company of such a long legacy and heritage.

Iona adorns a sense of genius and firmness in her stride, and although her work is still yet to be claimed, the company’s latest designs and activities in 2019 are tipped to be of her direction and authority.

From fashion weeks in capitals with the palettes such as Dakar, some of the most delimiting designs from Kiko recently have been eye-catching and remarkable from kimonos to jumpsuits, and allude that she is already living up to her mother Ann McCreath’s dexterous reputation.

SDP

A trio with robust personality, energy and tangy flavour, their chemistry has been a gap begging to be bridged to steer 254 into the broad global music market.

A Spanish, American and Kenyan national in Sean Preezy, their reasonable doubt in age may linger, but so far they have exuded a certain finesse that has led to high expectations of them, especially with their leader Sean already making huge strides in the media field being a host for a top local radio station.

What’s given is that they are stronger together, but definitely have the edge of being unique in each’s standing.

M2thepower3

Former Tusker Project Fame judge Ian Mbugua’s son is a highly musical and enthusiastic drum player, music producer and sound engineer.

Mbogua Mbugua Mbugua (M³) is one of the most industrious names in the Kenyan music industry that is barely noticeable. One of those that caves in and lets the work do the chatting for him, he is a priceless asset.

Sitting on the shoulders of a Kenyan music icon such as Eric Wainaina, and his fabled dad, was never an easy task, but he has managed to grasp as much knowledge as he can and imparts it with only the best, as you would imagine.

Such on his production roster are neo soul singers Wanja Wahoro, Ciano Maimba and Tetu Shani, just to scratch the surface.

Another badge on his sweater was producing the soundtrack to Mbithi Masya and Mugambi Nthiga’s film Lusala that did arguably well in 2019. Watch him.