Kenyan vocalist and songwriter Sophia Wanjiku, professionally known as Sofiya Nzau, has continued to make musical history after recently surpassing 10 million monthly Spotify listeners.
The singer behind the global smash hit 'Mwaki', has now joined the 'Big Boys and Girls' of African pop music after achieving the improbable milestone - joining the leagues of celebrated Afrobeat megastars like Burna Boy, Davido, Rema and Ayra Starr.
Sofiya, who collaborated with Brazilian producer Zerb on the widely-celebrated 'Mwaki' jam, has become the first East African artist to achieve the feat, beating out seasoned stars like Diamond Platnumz, Harmonize and Zuchu.
'Mwaki', an urgent progressive house track, became a world dance sensation soon after it was released back in November - it then catapulted Nzau to global fame, raising her musical profile and seeing her featured on countless international music platforms.
The track quickly hit No. 1 on Spotify’s Global Viral Chart, with hundreds of thousands of videos created by fans on social media.
The track - sung in the Kenyan language of Kikuyu - also gained momentum with a plethora of remixes by leading music producers including Major Lazer and Tiësto and with juicy edits from Franky Wah, Major League DJz, Tyler ICU, and Chris Avantgarde.
A Spotify chart released back in November 16 declared the song the 'Most Viral song in the World' after it was featured at Number One in a list titled 'Viral Songs Global'.
The song also secured an impressive fourth position on Beatport's Afro House Top 100 chart—a testament to the tracks insatiable international acclaim.
Mwaki's unprecedented success appears to have bolstered Nzau's Spotify numbers - eventually clocking her the coveted 10 million monthly listeners.
Back in March, Nzau joined forces with globally acclaimed DJ and producer, Fully Focus to release a captivating new single titled "Mwanake."
"Mwanake" - originally done by Benga legend JB Maina - reimagines the classic elements of Kikuyu music, a genre that originates from the lush central highlands of Kenya, known for its intricate storytelling and rhythmic vitality.
Speaking on the song, Fully Focus said, "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."
On her part, Nzau said, "Working on 'Mwanake' was an enlightening experience, blending the traditional with the contemporary."
Sofiya's signature fusion of techno and amapiano - and her masterful injection of vernacular into her lyricism - has propelled her into the global spotlight, making her one of the biggest EDM stars to come out of Kenya - and of Africa - in recent times.
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