Bien, Nviiri And Octopizzo Featured On Rolling Stone's Top Afropop Songs Of 2023

• US magazine Rolling Stones compiled the top 40 Afropop songs from across the continent based on how much they were consumed
• Top Kenyan stars made the list, with former Sauti sol vocalist Bien-Aime Alusa Baraza clenching a spot for the second year in a row
• Wakadinali, Sabi Wu, Octopizzo, Nviiri the Storyteller and Bensoul also got spots on the international list

Bien, Octopizzo and Nviiri, the storyteller, are among the Kenyan artistes who made it to the Rolling Stones's 2023 top 40 Afropop songs.

Rolling Stone is an American magazine focusing on music, politics, and popular culture. Its rankings are based on the votes of musicians, critics, and industry figures, as well as editors and writers.

In this year's ranking, Rolling Stone's second-ever list of the year's best Afropop songs, the magazine said they considered pieces that exemplify and represent authentic African sounds.

"we thought of Afropop as a catch-all for music by artists who primarily live on or work for the continent, making hits that define scenes and communities there and in its diaspora."

Kenyan musicians on the 40 Best Afropop list

In the list of top musicians from across the continent, some Kenyan artists made Kenya proud: Bien, Nviiri the Storyteller, Bensoul, Octopizzo, Wakadinali and Sabi Wu.

Rapper Sabi Wu took the 8th position with the song Mi Na Wewe.

"With an unexpected and well-executed sample of 2003’s “Ninanoki,” by Nameless and featuing Amani, one of Kenya’s Genge legends, Sabi Wu’s “Mi Na Wewe” shines amid a sea of new music from East Africa this year," Rolling Stone wrote.

Next was Bien-Aime Alusa Baraza, who came in 20th with his song 'Ma Cherie' from his recently released solo album.

"Bien is at his best on “Ma Cherie.” His vocals are effortlessly s*xy, and presented from a new perspective over the song’s modern treatment of quintessential Lingala sounds," the magazine explained.

The singer took to his Instagram to celebrate the win. He wrote:

To be featured twice on @rollingstone magazine on the top Afro pop songs of 2023 is wild . Dream come true for me and mine. This year has truly been full of blessings. Merry Christmas and Happy 2024.

Popular hip-hop group Wakadinali, made up of Domani Munga, Sewersydaa, and Scar, took the 30th position with the song Sikutambui.

Wakadinali was followed by rapper Octopizzo, who ranked number 31 with his song, wapi Compe.

Finally, as a collective, Nviiri, Bien and Bensoul clenched the 35th spot with their song Nikilewa.

Nviiri confirmed the win on his Instagram page, where he wrote:

"Join me in celebrating another win, top 40 best Afro-pop from 254 , ningesema tukate maji but I’m sure mko on wote …"

Wakadinali on Spotify's most-streamed artists list

In a related story, Wakadinali dominated the Spotify Wrapped list, an annual review of how people listen to artists, albums, tracks, playlists, and even podcasts, beating international and local Kenyan artists.

In the top streamed artists list, Wakadinali came in seventh and was the only local artist to feature on the list led by US rapper Drake.

Apart from being in the top streamed list, Wakadinali were also the most searched artist on Spotify in Kenya.

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Bien, Nviiri and Octopizzo

Bien, Nviiri and Octopizzo Featured on Rolling Stone's Top Afropop

Octopizzo, Wakadinali, and Bien earned high praise from Rolling Stones