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Top 10 Conscious Songs from East Africa

Top 10 Conscious Songs from East Africa

Conscious songs from East Africa

East African conscious songs have emerged from the region’s widespread social struggles. These songs have shed light on significant social issues faced by the region’s citizens, sparking awareness across various countries.

By Frank Njugi

Art can be a medium for social transformation; this is because artistes can create works of art that help to advance the imagination of their populations and set the course for enlightenment and growth.

Artistes from oppressed communities can create art as cultural expressions in an independent and autonomous way, in response to the hostilities or issues that have constrained them and those around them. The resulting art, in many ways, can be said to be radical, if not fully revolutionary.

In music, this enlightening form of art manifests as conscious music. By definition, this type of music is characterised by its promotion of Afrocentricity and awareness of socio-political, economic, and cultural issues. Conscious music challenges the dominant cultural, social, political, philosophical, and economic consensus.

In East Africa, as in many parts of the world, music has been used to inspire individual insights that can lead to collective positive change. East African conscious songs have emerged from the region’s widespread social struggles. Songs that shine a light on crucial issues have been released in plenty.

In this listicle, we present, in no particular order, 10 of the most impactful East African conscious songs. These songs have shed light on significant social issues faced by the region’s citizens, sparking awareness across various countries.

“Zali La Mentali”  — Professor Jay Feat. Juma Nature (2003, Tanzania)

One of Bongo Flava’s first major superstars, Professor Jay, is known as among the first artistes from East Africa to explore through music what it means to live in an urbanised inner–city in Africa. In Jay’s case, it was Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.  

His first major hit song, “Zali La Mentali”,  which featured Juma Nature, is celebrated for its creative delivery of an important message about the social constructs within Tanzanian urban society. The title, which roughly translates to ‘State of Mind’ or ‘Mental Product’, highlights the complexities of life in the city.

One of the biggest East African hit songs of the 2000’s, with  “Zali La Mentali”, sees Professor Jay delve into a Tanzanian society where prosperity remains a distant dream for the poor majority. The song suggests that for the underprivileged, success is so elusive that it can only be attained through rare, sheer luck. 

“Maalan Jira!” —  Hachalu Hundessa (2015, Ethiopia)

Oromo singer Hachalu Hundessa, known for his poetically eloquent protest songs that represented the Oromo struggle in Ethiopia, was murdered in June 2020. His death sparked protests from Oromos in cities across Ethiopia, the U.S., and Europe. One of his most famous songs is “Maalan Jira!”, which translates to ‘Do I even exist?’. 

Exemplified in this Oromo protest song is a history and geography marked by violence stemming from land dispossession and political persecution. Following his death, the track has come to be regarded as one that delves into what it means to have a body destroyed for embodying the power of resistance.

Kenyan Message” — Muthoni Drummer Queen (2018, Kenya)

In 2018, Kenyan rapper, drummer, and cultural entrepreneur, Muthoni Drummer Queen, released her acclaimed album, She. The album’s second track, “Kenyan Message”, is an alternative Electro Hip-Hop song that challenges the dominant social, cultural, and political structures present in Kenya and their effects on citizens’ mental health.

Produced by Swiss producer duo, GR! & Hook, “Kenyan Message” poses a question about the rampant theft by politicians from government coffers, asking why such shameless corruption persists, while also questioning why Kenyans, in turn, participate in this cycle of corruption through unabashed bribery. “Kenyan Message” was also listed as part of the soundtrack for the Kenyan film Rafiki, one of East Africa’s iconic and must watch films of all time.

“Tuliyambala Engule” – Bobi Wine (2019, Uganda)

Ugandan politician, performer, and activist, Bobi Wine first garnered acclaim for his popular hits and socially conscious songs, which he refers to as ‘edutainment’—a fusion of education and entertainment. As the founder and leader of the People Power movement and president of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Uganda’s main opposition party, he has continued to use his music as a medium to promote his party’s agenda and vision. One of the songs through which he has achieved this is his 2019 track, “Tuliyambala Engule”.

“Tuliyambala Engule”, which translates to ‘We Shall Wear Victors’ Crown’, sparked controversy upon its release in Uganda. In this popular track, Bobi Wine and other artistes address pressing issues such as corruption, maternal deaths, and embezzlement. They declare that once these injustices are eradicated, they will don bright, shining crowns and walk with renewed confidence throughout Uganda.

Utawala  — Juliani (2013, Kenya)

Kenyan Rap artiste, Juliani, is known for his ability to fuse musical instrumentals with poetic bars to create transcendental tracks. One of his most celebrated singles is “Utawala”, which he released in 2013. The track has become Kenya’s foremost revolutionary anthem, soundtracking communal action among citizens for eleven years.

In “Utawala”, Juliani succinctly raps about poor governance, highlighting rampant corruption, inequality, and economic sabotage in Kenya. For years, Juliani’s timeless lyrics in “Utawala” have served as the foundation for various national uprisings, with the artiste himself occasionally joining protesters in the streets, reinforcing the beliefs he articulated long ago in the song.

“Kazi Iendelee” — Harmonize, Awilo Longomba & H Baba (2021, Tanzania)

Bongo Flava artistes never shy away from addressing politicians in their music. One of the leading acts in the genre, Harmonize, is certainly at the forefront of this trend. 

After releasing a song about the late Tanzanian president, John Pombe Magufuli in 2019, Harmonize collaborated with legendary Congolese soukous singer Awilo Longomba and fellow Tanzanian artiste H Baba on the Rumba single, “Kazi Iendelee” following Magufuli’s death in 2021. This track discusses the legacy of Magufuli’s predecessor, Samia Suluhu Hassan.

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“Kazi Iendelee”, which translates to ‘The Work Must Continue’, conveys a message about the necessity for Tanzania to move on from a president who ushered in an era of success. The song honours Magufuli’s legacy while embracing the new leadership of Samia Suluhu and the opportunities for progress it brings. Other versions of this song have also been released by various Bongo Flava acts, including Rayvanny and Zuchu.

“Anataban”   — The Anataban Collective (2016, South Sudan)

The Anataban Campaign, named in Arabic: انا تعبان (Ana Taban), which translates to ‘I am tired’, is an artiste collective based in Juba, South Sudan. This group is known for employing music, street theatre, graffiti, murals, sculpture, and poetry to promote public dialogue on social injustice, government accountability, and transparency. In 2016, the collective released a titular track, “Anataban”.

“Anataban” advocated for solidarity, courage, integrity, inclusion, non-violence, and political neutrality in South Sudan as a country that has experienced a civil war since 2013.

“Wapi Huko” — Nay Wa Mitego (2024, Tanzania)

Tanzanian rapper, activist, and Bongo Flava artiste, Nay Wa Mitego, also known as Mr. Nay and NayTrueboy, has been committed to creating music that advocates for social justice, equity, and respect for the human rights of all his fellow Tanzanians for over two decades. In 2024, he continues to use his songs to seek the empowerment of marginalised communities and challenge systemic oppression. In January 2024, he released the single, “Wapi Huko”.

Nay Wa Mitego delves into various societal issues. He recounts a visit to an unnamed country, referred to only as ‘abroad’. The song paints a vivid picture of this place, highlighting the high cost of living, characterised by expensive food and surprisingly cheap alcohol. It also touches on the challenges faced by the working population, particularly the effects of daytime power outages.

“Tafsiri Hii”  — Kalamashaka (1997, Kenya)

Considered one of the songs that gave birth to Kenyan Hip Hop music, “Tafsiri Hii” captured the frustrations of an entire generation of young Kenyans trapped in Nairobi’s urban ghetto squalor. It embodied their aspirations to escape poverty in Dandora, a slum in Nairobi, in pursuit of a better life despite being born on what was considered the wrong side of the tracks.

Kalamashaka were purely conscious music artistes who influenced the urban fashion scene with their military revolutionary streetwear, inspired by the Kenyan Mau Mau Freedom fighters. “Tafsiri Hii” was the song that propelled Kalamashaka to fame, leading the group to tour the world performing this hit track. 

“Petit Pays” — Gaël Faye (2011, Burundi)

Born in Burundi in 1982 to a Rwandan mother and a French father, Gaël Faye fled his home in 1995 due to the Rwandan genocide. After relocating to France, he used music to process his pain and displacement. Between 2010 and 2011, Faye performed extensively across France and released 15 songs during this period, reflecting on his journey with a blend of nostalgia and indignation, recounting his childhood in Burundi and his life in France. One of these songs was the hit titled “Petit Pays”.

Faye is also the acclaimed author of the novel with the same name, Petit Pays, which has won multiple awards and been adapted into a film that is also considered one of East Africa’s iconic and must watch films of all time.             

Frank Njugi is a Kenyan Writer, Culture journalist and Critic who has written on the East African and African culture scene for platforms such as Debunk Media, Republic Journal, Sinema Focus, Culture Africa, The Elephant, Wakilisha Africa, The Moveee, Africa in Dialogue, Afrocritik and others. He tweets as @franknjugi.

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