the
January 2026 | 001
DISTRICT Jarida THE HONOR ROLL The people, places that shaped 2025
INSIDE THE ENGINE ROOM A sneak peak into the minds behind the Music
8 Weeks, 25+ Recordings One City, One Name 8 Weeks, 25+ Recordings One City, One Name
the year of the rush THE FACES, FAITH AND MOVEMENTS THAT DEFINED THE YEAR 2025
Photo by: Irungu Mwangi
PAGES
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ABOUT THE DISTRICT Meet the District, Learn our why. Join our tribe.
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THE LIVE BOOM
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DEFINING THE KENYAN SOUND
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THE ENGINE ROOM
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THE DISTRICT HONORS
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Photo by: trail.muuo.photography
Meet the 25 who all worked on their live recordings in a span of 8 weeks
Is there a Kenyan sound? What does it sound like?
The mind behind the actual music you listen to
The class of 2025 that set us up for success
FROM THE GATEKEEPERS DESK THIS MAGAZINE IS MY RECORD OF THAT EXCELLENCE—A TRIBUTE TO THE ARCHITECTS, THE PIONEERS, AND THE MOVEMENTS THAT KEPT OUR PULSE STEADY.
"They say the best way to celebrate a birthday is to look at the fruit of the year that passed. As I turn a year older, I couldn't think of a better gift than the District Jarida. 2025 wasn't just a year of music; it was a year of 'The Rush.' We saw 300+ songs, 40+ recordings, the rise of the 'Hybrid' sound, and the birth of movements that are changing the very fabric of Nairobi. We witnessed a shift from the booth to the room, from perfection to presence. This magazine is my record of that excellence—a tribute to the architects, the pioneers, and the movements that kept our pulse steady. Thank you for being the sound of my 2025. Let’s build the infrastructure for 2026. And yeah, Happy Birthday to me
Ivy Njoki
Editor-in-Chief 3
what is Imani district??? 4
Hi Fam! Welcome to The District. Imani District exists because faith does not begin and end on Sunday. Our hearts desire is that we will be able to have a nation that loves to seek the Lord every day, in every way, be it in the podcasts that keep us company at our desks or the music in our headphones in our commutes home, whether it be the events that fill our weekends or the spaces and communities that fill us with joy, there is a Kenyan voice for each of these expressions of faith and then some. And so here at Imani District we desire to shine a light on these voices, those who despite the odds and existing beliefs have chosen to go anyway, to create for Christ, our hope is that we can have more of us find Christ in these voices, and somewhere along the way you too can be inspired to create for Christ. Issue 001, The Year of the Rush, captures a defining moment. A season marked by acceleration, urgency, and divine pressure to move, build, and release. We truly hope you can keep up because, what appeared sudden on the outside was, for many, forged in private. This magazine is not a highlight reel. It is a record. Imani means faith. A district is where life happens. Welcome to ours. 5
THE
There isis aa specific There specific kind kind of of thunder thunder that that only only happens happens when when aa room full room full ofof people people decides decides toto breathe breathe inin the the same same direction. direction. InIn 2025, Nairobi 2025, Nairobi and and Kenya Kenya as as aa Nation Nation didn’t didn’t just just listen listen to to music; itit became music; became the the music. music.
We witnessed We witnessed what what historians historians (okay (okay us) us) will will likely likely call call 'The 'The Rush'—a period Rush'—a period where where the the studio studio booth booth felt felt too too small small for for the the hunger of hunger of the the city. city. We We saw saw over over 40 40 live live recordings recordings captured captured inin 12 months, 12 months, with with aa staggering staggering 25 25 of of those those falling falling inin the the final final ninety days ninety days of of the the year. year. From From the the intimate intimate living living room room sessions sessions that felt that felt like like aa family family secret, secret, to to the the grand, grand, tectonic tectonic shifts shifts atat the the Sarit Expo Sarit Expo Centre, Centre, the the District District was was alive. alive.
But why But why the the rush? rush? ItIt wasn't wasn't about about schedules; schedules; itit was was about about Presence. Presence. We We moved away moved away from from the the polished, polished, distant distant perfection perfection ofof the the studio and studio and leaned leaned into into the the raw, raw, unedited unedited honesty honesty of of the the 'Room.' We 'Room.' We chose chose the the sound sound of of aa cheering cheering crowd crowd over over aa digital reverb. digital reverb. We We chose chose the the 'Set' 'Set' over over the the 'Single.' 'Single.' This movement This movement proved proved that that the the Kenyan Kenyan Christian Christian creative creative isis nono longer longer waiting waiting for for permission permission toto build. build. Whether itit was Whether was the the vernacular vernacular anthems anthems that that reconnected reconnected us us toto our our roots roots oror the the urban urban chants chants that that defined defined our our future, future, every recording every recording was was aa brick brick inin aa new new altar. altar.
BOOM 6
LIVE
If you stood in those rooms, you felt the shift. You saw the sweat on the musicians’ brows and the light in the worshippers' eyes. You realized that we aren't just making songs anymore—we are documenting a move of God that refuses to be quiet. The Boom isn't over. It’s just found its frequency."
THE TWENTY- FIVE
THE Q4 SURGE (OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2025). IMANI LIVE - ALICE KIMANZI TEHILLAH - GRACE KEVIN JABALI LANGU - SOUNDS OF WORSHIP MOYO MPYA - DAN KAHIA YAH - GRACE NJERI EXALTED - SOLID ROCK BAND JESUS IS LORD - STEPHEN MUTINDA EYE HOME - PADDY FACE TO FACE - PETER MCHOVU YESU ANAWEZA - LADY BEE EXTRAVAGANT WORSHIP - GRAHAM AND MILCAH MCHUNGAJI LIVE 2.0 - BARAKA POLEPOLE SPIRIT AND MIND - ONE TO ANOTHER FAITHFUL GOD - JOY LIKAVO AHADI LIVE - ANDREW NGELELO WATOTO WA MUNGU - NYASHA NGOLOMA HUYU YESU - PST LIZZ AKINYI JOYFUL SOUND - LINDA J TALAM IN FATHERS ARMS - ALICE OTIENO REDIGGING OLD WELLS - BLESSING WESA UMENIWEZESHA - PST SOLOMON SILA PRAISE WEDNESDAY - KARURA VOICES THE MOVE - WILBERFORCE MUSYOKA RAISE A SOUND - GLORIE SHOW
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8 Photo by: trail.muuo.photography
THE STANDARD SETTER
Photo by: trail.muuo.photography
“ THIS RECORDING HAS BECOME THE NEW BENCHMARK. IT REMINDED EVERY CREATOR IN THE CITY THAT OUR WORSHIP DESERVES A WORLD-CLASS STAGE. “
On November 22nd, the conversation around Kenyan live recordings changed forever. With 'Watoto Wa Mungu,' Nyasha Ngoloma did more than capture a setlist; she anchored a new North Star for the entire industry. That night at the Sarit Expo Centre proved exactly what the Kenyan church is capable of when vision meets uncompromised preparation. Nyasha did more than stand on a stage—she curated an atmosphere where every detail was intentional. From the architectural precision of the stage design to the seamless flow of the event, the production was a quiet but firm challenge to the 'good enough' status quo. This recording has become the new benchmark. It reminded every creator in the city that our worship deserves a world-class stage. For anyone looking to hit 'Record' in the 254, 'Watoto Wa Mungu' isn't just an achievement to admire—it is the new standard." 9
“WHAT IS THE KENYAN SOUND?"
“WITH OVER 300 NEW SONGS RELEASED IN THE LAST YEAR AND UPTO 30 SONGS A MONTH - WHICH IS BASICALLY A NEW SONG EVERYDAY- WE REALIZED THAT THE KENYAN SOUND IS NOT A SPECIFIC BPM OR A SINGLE GENRE; IT IS A VERSATILITY.” 10
Photo by: trail.muuo.photography
300+
THE NUMBER OF SONGS RELEASED IN KENYA BY KENYANS IN 2025
Photo by: trail.muuo.photography
"For years, the same question has echoed through studios and social media alike: ‘What is the Kenyan sound?’ We looked for it in old archives and compared it to neighboring rhythms, searching for a single, narrow definition. In 2025, we not only defined it, we embraced it! With over 300 new songs released in the last year and upto 30 songs a month - which is basically a new song everyday- we realized that the Kenyan sound is not a specific BPM or a single genre; it is a Versatility. It is a frequency that refuses to be barred by language or confined by borders. It is as flexible as the city itself— moving seamlessly from the rhythmic, soulful pulse of Kompa in tracks like Onjula’s 'Wa Ajabu' and Kaffi Cynthia’s 'Tutashinda', to the high-energy chants of the urban streets, just ask Moji who gave us a song almost each month!
This was the year we embraced the full spectrum of our identity. We heard the Spirit move through the grit and honesty of Sheng - s/o to Evans Timam for that proving that God speaks the language of the sidewalk just as fluently as the sanctuary. We saw a powerful return to our Mother Tongues, where the Luo gratitude of Adelite’s 'Asante' and the Multilingual Victory of Nyasha’s ‘Milele Umeshinda’ felt more modern than anything on the global charts. THIS IS OUR SOUND: IT IS MULTILINGUAL. IT IS GENRE-FLUID. IT IS A HYBRID OF ANCESTRAL ROOTS AND URBAN HOPE. WE ARE NO LONGER TRYING TO SOUND LIKE THE WORLD; WE FINALLY HAVE THE COURAGE TO SOUND LIKE HOME." 11
THE ENGINE ROOM
A live recording is a high-stakes gamble. You have one night, one room, and one chance to capture a moment that is inherently uncapturable. In 2025, the District took this gamble over 40 times. But the work doesn't end when the lights go out at the sanctuary. That is where the 'Second Recording' begins. Production is the bridge between a 'nice night' and a 'legacy anthem.' It’s the grueling process of cleaning up the bleed, balancing the roar of the crowd against the intimacy of the lead vocal, and ensuring that the Spirit felt in the room translates through a pair of cheap earphones on a noisy matatu. In a year where we moved back to 'Live,' production became our most vital infrastructure. It standardized our excellence and gave the Kenyan voice the polish it needed to compete on the global stage.
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Enter Shakhan. If production is a science, Shakhan spent 2025 as the leading researcher. if you have listened to Kenyan Gospel Music this year, you have probably listened to Shakhan. With 50+ songs under his belt in a year, this is a feat of endurance and honestly, a work of genius. Handling over 20 different artists—each with their own temperament and vision—he became the common denominator of the 2025 Live Boom. From an entire album to an EP, his faders were the ones that shaped how we heard God this year. He didn’t just mix audio; he mixed the future."
SHAKHAN STANDARD
“...AND ENSURING THAT THE SPIRIT FELT IN THE ROOM TRANSLATES THROUGH A PAIR OF CHEAP EARPHONES ON A NOISY MATATU.”
Photo by: trail.muuo.photography
13 Photo by: Mark Kigen
THE MVMNT 14
AT THE RIGHT TIME, I THE LORD WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN. THE RIGHT TIME IS NOW! A GENERATION HAS RISEN UP AND IS NOT AFRAID TO RISE IN PRAISE AND KNEEL IN WORSHIP. A GENERATION THAT LOVES THE LORD AND THE LORD LOVES.
a man kneeling while hundreds of thousand worship in the background during Rhema Feast 2025
Thousands gathered to praise during the old skul vs new skul by Cheza Gospel x City Lighters
two ladies praying with each other during GenZ loves Jesus by Reign City Chapel
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THE DISTRICT HONORS: CLASS OF 2025 STANDARD - SETTER Nyasha Ngoloma (Watoto wa Mungu "For redefining the possible. Through 'Watoto Wa Mungu,' she set a new benchmark for technical and aesthetic excellence, proving that our worship deserves a world-class stage."
THE CULTURE-SHIFTER Living Room Music “For the sound of healing. Through the ASAI project. Creating this tapestry of hope proves that true worship transcends borders to serve the sacred worth of every life."
THE RANGE AWARD Manolo “For the artist who refused to be boxed in. From urban rhythms to the raw power of a live recording, he navigated every genre with the same level of heart and conviction."
THE POWER COUPLE Moji and Nyawira "For one household, two movements. Between the urban fire of Cheza Gospel and the soulful depths of Ms.Understood, they have curated the city’s most vital conversations. They are the ultimate blueprint."
THE MULTI-HYPHENATE Kambua "For being the District’s most versatile voice. Whether leading in song, commanding the stage as an MC, or hosting the city’s deepest conversations, she defines the standard of excellence.”
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THE DISTRICT HONORS: CLASS OF 2025 THE ACOUSTIC HEART Gabriel Kyama "For the masterful strings and the smile that anchored every room. Across a year of recordings, he provided the organic heartbeat and the joy that kept the movement steady.
THE HIDDEN HAND Martin Mmsava "For the man behind the music. As the backbone for over eleven live recordings, he is the master translator who turned a vision into the notes we sing."
THE VISUAL GURU Dannie Artpage "For the Magical hands that turned moments into stories, and we don’t just mean Instagram stories although he absolutely slayed those too!"
THE SONIC ARCHITECT Shakhan Music "For the ear that shaped a year. As the engine behind over 50 tracks, he provided the clarity and depth that allowed the Kenyan message to be heard with world-class precision.”
THE VOCAL MAVEN Ashley Isichi “For the one that translated the vision into harmony, ensuring that every background vocal was a focused prayer. They are the unseen hands holding the frequency of the room together.”
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THE DISTRICT HONORS: CLASS OF 2025
BREAKOUT ARTISTS OF THE YEAR
Adelite Spencer, Joanna Neema, Sue Wachira "For the courage of obedience. They didn't just enter the scene; they arrived with a sound that is annointed, and left us anthems, to dance to and to worship with. They are the evidence that the next chapter of our story is already being written with power."
THE ALTAR ANTHEM: 'Natamani Nikuone' - Kestin Mbogo "For the song that became our collective prayer. In a year of big sounds, this track brought us back to the simplicity of the secret place. It anchored the atmosphere of every heart in the District."
THE KAIROS AWARD 'Rejesha' - Njoki Munyi "For the most timely sound of the year. This wasn't just a release; it was a prophetic response to a city in need of restoration. It arrived exactly when we needed it.”
THE KOMPA QUEEN Onjula Praise “For introducing a new rhythm to our praise. By mastering the Kompa frequency, she brought a fresh, vibrant pulse that moved the District in a whole new way."
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