Willy M. Tuva’s list places Maandy above Femi One and Dyana Cods, prompting fans to discuss Ssaru, Wangechi and other contenders.
A Kenyan female rappers ranking shared by media personality Willy M. Tuva has renewed debate over the country’s leading women in hip-hop. The list places Maandy first, followed by Femi One and Dyana Cods.
Fans have responded with mixed views, while also questioning the omission of Ssaru and Wangechi. The discussion has extended to STL and Diana B, bringing several generations and styles into the conversation.
Kenyan female rappers ranking puts Maandy ahead
Nairobi-based Maandy entered the music industry in 2016 and has steadily built her catalogue. Her releases include Shash na Lipgloss and Sirudi Home, while her collaborations span several established Kenyan acts.
She has worked with Mejja, Nameless, Breeder LW and Femi One. Her album Kabaya also reportedly held the number-one position on Boomplay for a month.
Meanwhile, second-placed Femi One has maintained a longer presence in mainstream Kenyan hip-hop. The Kaka Empire artist gained broad recognition through tracks including Utawezana and Brikicho.
She also won the Best Female Artist award at the 2023 UnKut Hip Hop Awards. Dyana Cods completes the top three with a dancehall-influenced sound that has helped build her following.
Her track Set It gained significant attention online, particularly on TikTok. That traction helped bring her music to a wider audience.
Ssaru and Wangechi enter the wider debate
Beyond the leading three, fans have brought Ssaru’s career into the discussion. Born Sylvia Saru, she first attracted attention through viral freestyle videos before establishing herself in Gengetone.
Her releases include Nyama, which came out in 2019. Since then, she has collaborated with Mejja, Trio Mio, Khaligraph Jones and Fathermoh. Apple Music also named her an Up Next artist for East Africa in 2024.
Wangechi, meanwhile, represents an earlier generation of Kenyan female rappers. She gained attention through Hype Masters Entertainment before releasing her Consume mixtape. She appeared on CNN’s African Voices in 2013 and later featured on Coke Studio.
The conversation also includes Kenyan-Norwegian rapper and singer STL, born Stella Mwangi. Her career has reached international audiences, with releases including Take It Slow and Biashara.
Diana B, whose real name is Diana Marua, has pursued rap alongside content creation. She has released music and collaborated with her husband, musician Bahati.
