Summary

Genge music, meaning "a group or a mass of people" is a fusion of Kenyan hip-hop, dancehall, and African rhythms. Sung in a Swahili slang called Sheng, which was developed by the city's youth and influenced by many local languages.

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HistoryGenge music, sometimes known as genge, was popular in the 2000s and is a descendant of the hip-hop style of music with extra dancehall elements that originated in Nairobi, Kenya. Genge, meaning "a group or a mass of people" was first used to describe Kenyan urban music. Owing to a debate over what characterizes Kenyan urban music, this genre includes a variety of regional traditional music genres and is sung in a Swahili slang known as SHENG, which was developed by the city's youth and is influenced by many of the local tongues. Kenyan artists and music fans wanted a common name for their music as it became more popular, and many names were proposed. Around this time, the name Genge was formed by popular producer Clement Rapudo Sijenyi, better known as Clemo, and was made popular by Kenyan rappers Jua Cali and Nonini, the self-titled Godfather of Genge, who started at Calif Records, a Kenya record label based in Nairobi's California Estate, with their songs "Ngeli ya Genge" and "Manzi wa Nairobi," respectively. Other subgenres, such as Ghipuka and gengetone, arose as a result of young listeners and artists reimagining and restructuring contemporary music to reflect their point of view.
After years of silence in the music industry, young Kenyans have reignited and evolved the local beat to create the new sound of Kenya's streets, using storytelling and social engagement to deliver unfiltered street-life messages and keeping the mesmerizing dancehall hybrid alive. In June 2018, the Umoja-based boy band Ethic Entertainment released their debut single "Lamba Lolo," which has received over 4 million views on YouTube. The newly refurbished gengetone is enticing with resonant, high-energy beats and danceable rhythms.

Elements 
Form and Style

Genge is characterized by its energetic, fast-paced rhythms, vibrant beats, and socially conscious lyrics. It often fuses hip-hop, dancehall, African and traditional Kenyan sounds. The focus is frequently on the beat and melody, but the use of backing voices and samples can add an additional depth of interest to the music.

Singing Style

The singing style in genge features lively singing style with rhythmic rap flows and expressive articulated delivery. The rappers or performers make use of Sheng or Swahili to delivery the rhythmic flows, creating a vibrant and socially relevant sound.

Theme

The lyrics in Genge music reflects the struggles, aspirations, and cultural experiences of the Kenyan youth.

Culture

Genge music culture is inextricably linked to Kenyan adolescent culture. It is a way for young people who feel marginalized or removed from conventional culture to express themselves. Genge music frequently tackles societal and political problems such as poverty, corruption, and unemployment, and is used to express young worries

Timbre

Arrangement

In Genge music, the composition is frequently a mix of electronic and live percussion. Drum machines, synthesizers, and electronic instruments are commonly used to produce the driving rhythm and appealing tunes.