Kenyan vocalist and songwriter Sophia Wanjiku, better known as Sofiya Nzau, has recently achieved a remarkable milestone by surpassing 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify, continuing to etch her name in musical history.
The singer, renowned for her global hit ‘Mwaki’, has now entered the elite league of African pop music alongside celebrated Afrobeat icons such as Burna Boy, Davido, Rema, and Ayra Starr.
Sofiya, who collaborated with Brazilian producer Zerb on the sensational ‘Mwaki’, has become the first East African artist to reach this milestone, surpassing seasoned stars like Diamond Platnumz, Harmonize, and Zuchu. ‘Mwaki’, an electrifying progressive house track, captured global attention shortly after its release in November, propelling Nzau to international fame and landing her on numerous international music platforms.
The track swiftly climbed to No. 1 on Spotify’s Global Viral Chart, with hundreds of thousands of fan-made videos circulating on social media platforms. Sung in the Kenyan language of Kikuyu, ‘Mwaki’ also garnered attention through various remixes by renowned music producers including Major Lazer, Tiësto, Franky Wah, Major League DJz, Tyler ICU, and Chris Avantgarde.
A Spotify chart in November declared ‘Mwaki’ the ‘Most Viral Song in the World’, topping the ‘Viral Songs Global’ list. Additionally, the track secured an impressive fourth position on Beatport’s Afro House Top 100 chart, showcasing its widespread international acclaim.
The unprecedented success of ‘Mwaki’ has significantly boosted Nzau’s Spotify numbers, ultimately crossing the coveted threshold of 10 million monthly listeners.
In March, Nzau collaborated with globally acclaimed DJ and producer Fully Focus to release a captivating new single titled “Mwanake”.
“Mwanake”, originally by Benga legend JB Maina, reinterprets the classic elements of Kikuyu music, known for its rich storytelling and rhythmic vitality. Fully Focus commented, “Mwanake’ is more than just a song; it’s the heart of the ‘Kikuyu House’ project. We aimed to honor the rich musical tradition of the Kikuyu culture while presenting it in a format that resonates with today’s borderless audience.”
Nzau added, “Working on ‘Mwanake’ was an enlightening experience, blending the traditional with the contemporary.”
Sofiya’s distinctive fusion of techno and amapiano, combined with her skillful incorporation of vernacular into her lyrics, has propelled her into the global spotlight, establishing her as one of the prominent EDM stars emerging from Kenya and Africa in recent times.
