Kenyan artists who died but their songs still rocks

Image result for late e-sir

Few Kenyans remember the late musicians whose music they listen and cherish.

Their names are often only jolted from the recess of our minds by the occasional reminder of their songs playing on radio Or after upcoming rappers re-invent their original lyrics.

Here are the late legend musicians who died but their songs still rocks.

Image result for late e-sir

Born Issah Mmari, on May 20, 1981 in California Estate, and raised in South c estate Nairobi, Kenya.

E-Sir was a Kenyan hip hop artist signed to the Ogopa DJs label who was famous for his deft lyrical ability and command of the Swahili language.

He is still widely regarded as one the best rappers to emerge on the Kenyan hip hop scene. He first came to be known in 2001 by his song “Jo”, a song done in the same style as Black Rob’s “Whoa.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMNibXSUvnY

The song proudly declared E-Sir’s arrival on the Kenyan music scene and was featured on the Ogopa DJs debut album .

He went on to release his debut album “Nimefika” in 2003 which was a big hit with virtually all the songs on the album becoming radio singles. He won 4 categories in the 2003 Kisima Music Awards.

Boomba Train which was released back in 2012 ft Nameless is still a club banger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBwfZAkgCn4

Joseph Kamaru

Image result for joseph kamaru songs

Kamaru made his first breakthrough in 1967 with Celina.

 The height of his musical career was between 1975 and 1985 due the release of adults-only cassettes, all dealing with Kikuyu folk songs.

In the late 1980s he was the first Kenyan artist to play at the Carnivore Restaurant, then only hosting foreign artists.According to Martin Dunford, the owner of the restaurant, Kamaru’s vibrant performance opened doors for other Kenyan artists to perform at the venue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBZWDM5bFpg

Rapper Kantai

The rapper passed away this year at St. Francis Hospital in Kasarani, where he was taken two days ago aged 42 years. 

He was well known in the Kenyan HipHop industry as one of the best Kenyan rappers in time, among other top rappers like Abbas Kubaff, Mashifta, Bamboo and many more.

Ayub Ogoda

Image result for ayub ogada

Ayub Ogada was, until his death, the most internationally acclaimed and travelled Kenyan musician. Within an hour of the announcement of his demise at his home in Nyahera village, Kisumu County, tributes were pouring in from all over the world. Musician and friend Peter Gabriel has written a tribute on his website.

Born in the coastal city of Mombasa, he travelled to the US as a youngster, where his father was studying medicine. There, he immersed himself in the 1960s black consciousness ideology that helped form his outlook and his art.

Performed live in The Wood Room at Real World Studios in 1995, ‘Obiero’ is taken from Ayub’s only album released on Real World Records, En Mana Kuoyo. Since its initial release in 1993, En Mana Kuoyo has become the stuff of world music legend.

The album’s ten songs present a spacious, acoustic side of African music, one subtly imbued with modern sensibility.

The production was ahead of its time in its simplicity, and it made a sharp contrast with the ever more elaborate, technically complex African music productions of its era.


This are just but a few late celebrities who’s songs will not be forgotten.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *