Over 300,000 artistes across Africa earned a combined KSh 129 million in royalties from music streaming platforms between January and June 2025. Kenyan artistes stood out, taking home nearly half of the total, cementing the country’s dominance in the fast-growing digital music space.
Kenya Takes the Lead
Kenya claimed the lion’s share of the royalties, pocketing KSh 64 million of the KSh 129 million disbursed. The milestone underlined the strength and influence of Kenyan musicians, who continue to lead the way in Africa’s digital music revolution.
Wakadinali and Other Top Earners
Among the top earners were hip-hop powerhouses Wakadinali, gospel singer Stephen Kasolo, and rising star Iyanii. These artistes have effectively leveraged streaming platforms to expand their audiences and secure sustainable income streams.
The report praised streaming services for addressing longstanding industry issues such as piracy and lack of fair compensation. By implementing structured royalty systems, artistes now enjoy more transparent, timely, and reliable earnings from their craft.
What Stakeholders Said
Mdundo CEO Martin expressed pride in the platform’s progress, noting that Africa has been the fastest-growing recording industry globally for the past two years. He highlighted the importance of seamless cross-border payments in ensuring artistes are fairly rewarded.
Cellulant Vice President of Payouts, Victor Wanjihia, also emphasized the significance of reliable payment systems, saying they allow artistes to focus on their creativity without worrying about delayed compensation.
Growing Reach and Impact
Currently, Mdundo serves 39 million monthly active users and collaborates with more than 300,000 artistes across East, West, and Southern Africa. Founded in Kenya in 2012, the platform has since expanded to Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, South Africa, and Cameroon.
Kenyan artistes like Joefes (Mbuzi Gang) and Doreen Mumbua credited the platform with helping their careers, citing timely payments, funding for album launches, and increased exposure through curated playlists.
Industry Collaboration
The streaming ecosystem has been further strengthened through partnerships with major telcos such as Safaricom, Airtel, MTN, Glo, and Vodacom. Collaborations with global brands like Samsung, Tusker, and EABL, alongside licensing agreements with record labels including Sol Generation, Chocolate City, and Swangz Avenue, have opened new opportunities for African artistes.
The Bigger Picture
In 2024, more than KSh 163.3 million in royalties was distributed to African artistes, with Kenya contributing over 20,000 musicians to the platform. Projections estimate that KSh 155 million in royalties will be paid out by January 2026, signaling a bright future for digital music monetisation across the continent.
For Wakadinali and other Kenyan musicians, these earnings represent more than just financial gain—they mark a new era of recognition, empowerment, and global visibility for African talent.
