MEET KENWIZA: THE AFROBEATS TRAILBLAZER SHAPING HITS FROM THE SHADOWS

MEET KENWIZA: THE AFROBEATS TRAILBLAZER SHAPING HITS FROM THE SHADOWS

Rising from Nigeria’s dynamic music scene, Kenwiza is carving a rare path in the global Afrobeats landscape with his meticulous craftsmanship and bold innovation. His productions, marked by intricate soundscapes and a seamless blend of cultural influences, strike a rare balance between commercial appeal and artistic depth. Kenwiza’s transformative work on some projects like Victor Thompson’s This Year (Blessings) and Victony’s Maria, while introducing his latest release, Lethal with Mvce, showcases his evolving artistry and technical prowess.

Kenwiza’s co-production of Victor Thompson’s gospel-infused hit This Year (Blessings) is a cultural and commercial achievement, amassing over 300 million streams worldwide, being certified platinum in France and inspiring over 2 million TikTok videos. The track’s universal appeal stems from Kenwiza’s ability to blend gospel’s soulful chords with Afrobeats’ infectious grooves, creating an uplifting yet grounded experience. With remixes featuring Gunna and Kouz1, highlights his versatility, incorporating African percussion elements while preserving the song’s emotional core. This work showcases Kenwiza’s cultural fluency, seamlessly blending African and diasporic sounds in a way that feels organic and forward-thinking.

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An exciting and often overlooked highlight of Kenwiza’s contributions is his incredible role in Victony’s breakthrough Saturn EP, particularly on Maria featuring Falz. It highlights his ability to push Afrobeats beyond its traditional confines. The track is a masterclass of the philosophy “Less is More”, with a driving bassline grounding the arrangement while vibrant synths and intricate percussion craft a vivid, almost cinematic feel. By fusing Alté’s experimental flair with Afrobeats’ rhythmic essence, Kenwiza creates a fresh yet authentic sound. The track’s unconventional chord progressions, marinating with Victony’s unique vocal texture and dynamic interplay between Falz’s verses, have earned critical acclaim, cementing Kenwiza as an early trendsetter in Nigeria’s dynamic music scene and beyond.

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Kenwiza’s latest release, Lethal, featuring Mvce, marks a bold evolution in his artistry, showcasing his innovative use of sound to convey raw emotion. Produced, mixed and mastered by Kenwiza, the track explores deep, resonant basses that pulse like a heartbeat, anchoring the song’s intense emotional undercurrent. Practical effects, such as heartbeat sounds, amplify the track’s visceral impact, drawing listeners into its narrative of passion and intensity. Including live violins, performed by acclaimed Nigerian violinist, Governors Violinist with credits on songs from Rema, Asake, and Omah Lay, adds a haunting cinematic quality that elevates the production to new heights. Mvce’s soothing, velvety vocals engineered by Kenwiza, glide effortlessly over his intricate arrangement, creating a timeless and futuristic synergy. This unrivalled pairing of Kenwiza’s visionary production and Mvce’s emotive delivery signals a partnership poised to dominate the Afrobeats and Afrosoul scene, promising a future of groundbreaking collaborations.

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His work stands out for its deliberate storytelling and emotional resonance. Unlike producers swayed by popular trends, he prioritises immersive soundscapes, using layered percussion and experimental textures to craft narratives. This is evident in “Maria,” where the rhythmic and melodic interplay mirrors the song’s themes of love and rebellion, and in Lethal, where sonic elements like heartbeats and violins deepen the emotional stakes. His ability to translate an artist’s vision into a cohesive sonic masterpiece positions him as a producer of immense potential, delivering intellectually stimulating and commercially compelling work.

Ultimately, he embodies a new wave of African producers redefining Afrobeats on a global scale. His collaborations with artists like Victor Thompson, Mvce, Necta, St. Seii (UAE), Takura (Zimbabwe), Victony, Adam Srae, Tony Jaiye (UK), Gunna (USA), PrincetheKid (UK) and more demonstrate his versatility across Afrobeats, gospel, and experimental genres. As he gears up to release more of his music, the industry eagerly awaits sonic universes that reflect his unique fusion of tradition and innovation. Kenwiza’s works are not just production credits; they are landmarks in a career defined by technical mastery and creative boldness.Rising from Nigeria’s dynamic music scene, Kenwiza is carving a rare path in the global Afrobeats landscape with his meticulous craftsmanship and bold innovation. His productions, marked by intricate soundscapes and a seamless blend of cultural influences, strike a rare balance between commercial appeal and artistic depth. Kenwiza’s transformative work on some projects like Victor Thompson’s This Year (Blessings) and Victony’s Maria, while introducing his latest release, Lethal with Mvce, showcases his evolving artistry and technical prowess.

Kenwiza’s co-production of Victor Thompson’s gospel-infused hit This Year (Blessings) is a cultural and commercial achievement, amassing over 300 million streams worldwide, being certified platinum in France and inspiring over 2 million TikTok videos. The track’s universal appeal stems from Kenwiza’s ability to blend gospel’s soulful chords with Afrobeats’ infectious grooves, creating an uplifting yet grounded experience. With remixes featuring Gunna and Kouz1, highlights his versatility, incorporating African percussion elements while preserving the song’s emotional core. This work showcases Kenwiza’s cultural fluency, seamlessly blending African and diasporic sounds in a way that feels organic and forward-thinking.

An exciting and often overlooked highlight of Kenwiza’s contributions is his incredible role in Victony’s breakthrough Saturn EP, particularly on Maria featuring Falz. It highlights his ability to push Afrobeats beyond its traditional confines. The track is a masterclass of the philosophy “Less is More”, with a driving bassline grounding the arrangement while vibrant synths and intricate percussion craft a vivid, almost cinematic feel. By fusing Alté’s experimental flair with Afrobeats’ rhythmic essence, Kenwiza creates a fresh yet authentic sound. The track’s unconventional chord progressions, marinating with Victony’s unique vocal texture and dynamic interplay between Falz’s verses, have earned critical acclaim, cementing Kenwiza as an early trendsetter in Nigeria’s dynamic music scene and beyond.

Kenwiza’s latest release, Lethal, featuring Mvce, marks a bold evolution in his artistry, showcasing his innovative use of sound to convey raw emotion. Produced, mixed and mastered by Kenwiza, the track explores deep, resonant basses that pulse like a heartbeat, anchoring the song’s intense emotional undercurrent. Practical effects, such as heartbeat sounds, amplify the track’s visceral impact, drawing listeners into its narrative of passion and intensity. Including live violins, performed by acclaimed Nigerian violinist, Governors Violinist with credits on songs from Rema, Asake, and Omah Lay, adds a haunting cinematic quality that elevates the production to new heights. Mvce’s soothing, velvety vocals engineered by Kenwiza, glide effortlessly over his intricate arrangement, creating a timeless and futuristic synergy. This unrivalled pairing of Kenwiza’s visionary production and Mvce’s emotive delivery signals a partnership poised to dominate the Afrobeats and Afrosoul scene, promising a future of groundbreaking collaborations.

His work stands out for its deliberate storytelling and emotional resonance. Unlike producers swayed by popular trends, he prioritises immersive soundscapes, using layered percussion and experimental textures to craft narratives. This is evident in Maria, where the rhythmic and melodic interplay mirrors the song’s themes of love and rebellion, and in Lethal, where sonic elements like heartbeats and violins deepen the emotional stakes. His ability to translate an artist’s vision into a cohesive sonic masterpiece positions him as a producer of immense potential, delivering intellectually stimulating and commercially compelling work.

Ultimately, he embodies a new wave of African producers redefining Afrobeats on a global scale. His collaborations with artists like Victor Thompson, Mvce, Necta, St. Seii (UAE), Takura (Zimbabwe), Victony, Adam Srae, Tony Jaiye (UK), Gunna (USA), PrincetheKid (UK) and more demonstrate his versatility across Afrobeats, gospel, and experimental genres. As he gears up to release more of his music, the industry eagerly awaits sonic universes that reflect his unique fusion of tradition and innovation. Kenwiza’s works are not just production credits; they are landmarks in a career defined by technical mastery and creative boldness.

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