Showbiz wise, Africa is becoming one small village where young stars are now cutting across regional borders to attain continental fame with ease. From Kenya to Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa, STEVENS MUENDO and DAVID ODONGO unveil the new kids that Africa is watching

Three weeks ago, Chidinma, the latest Nigerian sensation of Kedike fame, flew into the country to record a new collabo with Kenya’s leading rapper Madtraxx.

The brand-new single Bless Me, was produced by Sylvastone and features another West African star IIIBliss.

A week prior to this unusual continental showbiz shift, Madtraxx had hosted Uganda’s emerging hip-hop force Keko, in yet another regional musical merger giving birth to the Make you Dance video, now receiving favourable media reviews across the continent.

Just like Camp Mulla, Wizkid, Ice Prince Aslay, Jackie Chandiru and Octopizzo, these three music stars are now in a set of a new breed of musicians whose music is driving the continent — having mastered most music charts across the continent and far beyond.

Just like the Ghanaian azonto dance, which has now gone worldwide, this new breed of music stars now has its presence felt in every corner of the continent and critics have it that they are the generation that will help sprout the African showbiz scene into the world stage.

A month ago, Camp Mulla — comprising of talented youngsters Karun, Yung Kass, Taio Tripper and K’Cous — was nominated for the prestigious BET Awards alongside Nigerian counterparts Wizkid and Ice Prince as well as the up-coming Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie.

Wizkid has already been signed by Akon’s Konvict Music record label and word on the street has it that Camp Mulla is now within the crosshairs of another international music label Universal Records.

Camp Mulla

The prolific hip-hop Kenyan group recently got back from Johannesburg where they rendered a stirring performance for Africa at the Big Brother StarGame eviction party. During this year’s Chaguo La Teeniez awards, the group won the awards for Teeniez’ Group or Collabo and Teeniez’ Nu Artiste categories. They also became the first Kenyan group to be nominated for a BET Award. Since they made their entry into the music scene two years ago with their debut single Party don’t Stop followed by Feel no Pain, Fresh all Day and Hold it Down, the group has not looked back. Their songs are club-bangers in many dance floors across the continent.

Chidinma

This new Nigerian flame has been christened the ‘small girl with a big voice’ since she burst into the limelight early this year. Well, the Kedike hit maker was the first ever-female winner of the MTN Project Fame West Africa reality TV show. That was late last year. She then released Jankoliko, a track featuring Sound Sultan, before rising into continental stardom with her Kedike song. Her latest release is the Madtraxx collabo Bless Me, whose video was shot by Clarence Peters — the same producer responsible for Camp Mulla’s latest releases.

Keko

Keko is the freshest Ugandan rapper to take Africa by storm after releasing her single How We Do It last year. Keko is a creative star endowed with enormous lyrical prowess and a unique swag to go with. As she became a household name just in her second year in the industry, Keko scooped The Buzz Teenies’ awards for Best Female and Best Upcoming artiste in Uganda before winning the East Africa Best Upcoming Artiste during the regional awards held in Nairobi last year. With her songs rotating in the biggest  channel in Africa, Keko is no doubt the girl to watch.

 

Diamond

First was his treble award-win at the Kilimanjaro Music awards in 2010, then the nomination to the MTV Africa Music Awards the same year. With hits like Mbagala and Kamwambie, the artiste has positioned himself for a continental takeover if his show in South Africa three weeks ago is anything to go by. Unlike other Tanzanian artistes, Diamond has refused to be kept inside the regional box. He has cut a niche for himself by defining a new music style and dance that no Tanzanian artiste has created before.

Wizkid

When news broke in December, last year, that record producer and singer Akon had signed Wizkid alongside 2Face and P-square as representatives of his record label Konvict Muzik, in Africa, the development didn’t come as a surprise. Wizkid had already affirmed his presence across the continent with his 2010 Holla At Your Boy runway hit single coming barely a year since he begAn recording professionally. His last year’s Love my Baby coupled with the numerous collabos he has recorded with established artistes send out a warning that he could be the next big African music export. Through Konvict Muzik, which is home to international artiste such as Brick and Lace, T-Pain and Lady Gaga, all we can say is that the sky is the limit for this young Nigerian charm.

Jackie Chandiru

The sassy songstress has everyone across Africa singing along and dancing to her groovy Gold Digger single, and yes, the sassy Jackie Chandiru has reinvented her music.

Even though she is not so new, the former Blu3’ singer is now oozing fresh blood since she launched her solo career two years ago. She has just completed recording 13 singles for her upcoming album and has four hits, including Gold Digger.

Her video Agassi won Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) Awards last year. Africa should expect a lot from her.

Madtraxx

With all the collabos he has been working on ‘East Africa’s super producer, super emcee, super deejay’ is easily and visibly one of the biggest plotters in the new scramble for Africa.

Ice Prince, Octopizzo and Aslay

When Kenya’s bad boy of hip-hop Octopizzo was redefining East African rap last year, Nigeria’s Ice Prince was having his Oleku playing across the continent. Even though Octopizzo’s songs were making rotation on Channel O, it was Ice Prince’s Oleku that went ahead to win the Channel O Video Awards for Best Newcomer video. But that did not leave Aslay, the new Tanzanian rapper, out; neither does it Liquid deep, the South African group with ill lyrics and a presence to die for. And while we are still at it, did we hear someone say GNL – Zamba?