East Africa's entertainment industry has grown tremendously and produced some of the richest entertainers on the continent.
Making money in the music industry nowadays is different because the internet has really made it harder for artists to get paid.
Artists no longer rely on album sales to live out of music but with change comes innovation and entertainers have learnt how to make ends meet in different ways.
Here are the 10 richest musicians of 2020 in East Africa:
1. Jose Chameleone
He is the richest artist in East Africa and 10th in Africa. Jose Chameleone started his career over two decades ago and he enjoys massive airplay and fame across the world. Chameleone accumulated wealth from investments in real estate, music, and endorsements. He owns Leone Island Music Label, Coco Beach on the shores of Lake Victoria, Daniella Villas apartments located in Uganda and rentals along Entebbe road in Kampala.
He owns two expensive palatial mansions, one is located on Seguku hill off Entebbe road worth 34 million while the other one is located in a rich suburb of Muyenga in Kampala worth 44 million which is said to have several bedrooms, a swimming pool, and seven servants quarters. Chameleone also owns a luxury home in Arizona, USA, and another one in Kigali, Rwanda.
2. Diamond Platnumz
Nasibu Abdul Juma Issack, popularly known by his stage name Diamond Platnumz, is the richest artist in Tanzania and the second in East Africa. He started his musical journey a decade ago and today is the most listened artist in East Africa. His money comes from shows, endorsements, and his record label WCB.
Diamond has also interests in the food industry, he also owns Chibu perfume, Wasafi TV & radio. The singer also owns palatial mansions in Tanzania and South Africa. His Madale mansion in Dar Es Salaam is reportedly worth sh70 million.
3. Jaguar
The Starehe Member of Parliament is the richest musician in Kenya. He made a debut in his musical journey back in 2005. His music has earned him awards, fame, money, and most importantly an opportunity to represent the people of Starehe. His source of wealth comes from the transport industry, construction industry, real estate industry, motor industry, and the music industry.
4. Akothee
Controversial singer Akothee entered the music industry with a bang and has been releasing music consistently. She is a great entertainer, with a huge fan base in Kenya and East Africa at large. She is amongst the richest musicians in East Africa, with an estimated net worth of $3.2 million. She makes most of her money from music, investments in real estate (Akothee Homes) and transport (Akothee Safaris).
5. Bobi Wine
Real name Robert Kyagulanyi is the richest musician in East Africa. He is amongst the earliest breeds of the new-age artists in the music industry to make a massive breath through. He has an estimated net worth of $7 million as of 2020.
He owns One beach located in Lake Victoria, owns a farm in Gomba district with a large cattle herd and swine, Firebase records in Kamwokya, Ssemakokiro Plaza, expensive palatial mansions in Magere and Gomba, yacht and speedboats, and has heavily invested in the cab industry in Uganda’s capital- Kampala.
6. Ali Kiba
He is one of the most famous artists in East Africa and Africa at large. Kiba started doing music back in 2004 after completing high school; this was after turning an offer to join a Ugandan soccer team as a player. Since then he has released mega-hits which have earned him game a lot of money.
He has received endorsements from Tanzania’s top telecommunications company Tigo, Cococala’s Coke Studio Africa, Fiesta, anti-poaching ambassador in East Africa and led campaign Trail for Tanzania’s president Magufuli in 2015. He has also been involved in many Kenyan campaign trails since 2007.
7. Professor Jay
The veteran Hip-hop artist is one of the few musicians from Tanzania credited with selling the “Bongo Flava” Tanzanian hip hop subgenre to the rest of East Africa. He debuted his music career in 1994 and released multiple hits which gained him a lot of fame, awards, and money. In 2015, he was elected as a member of parliament representing Mikumi constituency.
His wealth came from international shows during his music career, owns several apartments in Dar Es Salaam including a beachfront mansion that has an inbuilt studio.
