Music tells the story of a people. In Kenya, this story is as rich and diverse as its soundscape.
A glance at Google Trends data from 12 May 2024 to 12 May 2025 reveals fascinating insights into the types of music Kenyans are searching for online.
Surprisingly, gospel music emerged as the genre with the highest search interest, far surpassing other favourites such as rhumba, gengetone, amapiano, and bongo music. Below is a breakdown of the most searched for music genres in Kenya over the past year:
Gospel Music
Gospel music stood tall in terms of search interest. Represented by the blue line on the Google Trends graph, it maintained consistently high search volumes, with noticeable spikes in mid-May and early October 2024; likely linked to religious events, album launches, or high-profile gospel concerts.
Despite minor fluctuations, gospel retained its dominance across the year, a testament to its spiritual weight and cultural presence in Kenyan society.
Top related search queries revealed Kenyans were particularly interested in gospel songs, gospel mix, and gospel songs download, indicating strong demand for both individual tracks and curated playlists.
Rhumba
Rhumba came in second, showing steady and reliable search interest across the year. Often scoring between 10 and 20 on the search interest scale, the genre demonstrated that it still holds a significant place in Kenyan hearts, especially among older generations and fans of East African and Congolese music traditions.
Despite its vintage roots, rhumba continues to thrive thanks to its smooth rhythms and romantic lyrics. The most popular search queries included rhumba mix, rhumba mp3 download, rhumba mix mp3, rhumba songs, and rhumba lyrics, suggesting fans aren’t just passively listening but actively seeking to engage with both classic hits and new blends.
Amapiano
In third place was amapiano; South Africa’s export that has found fertile ground in Kenya’s urban spaces. Characterised by its catchy log drums, jazzy undertones, and chilled-out grooves, amapiano has grown steadily in popularity over the past year.
Search activity remained consistent, reflecting a rising interest among younger, trend-conscious listeners. Queries such as download amapiano, amapiano mp3 download, amapiano mix, and amapiano songs were among the most searched, showing that Kenyan fans are eager to keep up with fresh releases and dancefloor favourites from the amapiano scene.
Bongo Music
Bongo music, the Tanzanian-born genre known for its emotional depth and rhythmic flair, ranked fourth in overall search interest. Though it maintained relatively modest numbers, its loyal following ensured consistent traffic throughout the year.
Common searches included bongo music download, bongo music mp3 download, bongo music mix, and bongo mix, pointing to continued demand for the genre’s romantic tunes and party-ready anthems. Bongo’s position reflects its enduring cross-border appeal and its ability to evolve with changing musical tastes.
Gengetone
Last but certainly not forgotten was gengetone; Kenya’s own gritty, streetwise sound. Though its search numbers were the lowest of the five genres tracked, often hovering below 10, it experienced occasional spikes that suggest a still-vibrant following, particularly among younger digital natives.
Searches for gengetone mix, gengetone songs, gengetone mix download, gengetone mix mp3 download, and gengetone songs download show that fans remain engaged, especially those looking for compilations and fresh tracks from homegrown acts. While its mainstream moment may have faded, gengetone is far from silent.
