Jamaican artists have increasingly made their mark on Kenya's music scene through collaborations with local talent, with recent efforts by Demarco drawing significant attention. The dancehall and reggae star, whose real name is Collin Demar Edwards, recently joined Kenyan rapper Arrow Bwoy on the track "Love Doctor," which dropped on a Friday evening. The song, featuring Demarco's fluent Swahili verses, has already amassed 11,000 views on YouTube and received praise from Kenyan audiences.
Demarco is not the only Jamaican artist to incorporate Swahili into their work. Alaine, a reggae singer, first gained Kenyan recognition in 2013 when she appeared on Wyre's "Nakupenda Pia." She later contributed to Willy Paul's 2017 wedding anthem "I Do" and collaborated with comedian Churchill on her 2017 track "Wafula."
Romain Virgo, known for his energetic performances, featured in King Kaka's 2018 song "One and Only." Meanwhile, reggae legend Tarrus Riley appeared on Zikki's 2018 track "Kamata" and delivered Swahili lines in the collaboration. Etana, another Jamaican artist, has long been a favorite in Kenya, with her 2013 collaboration with Dan Aceda on "Look to You" further cementing her popularity.
Demarco's Swahili lyrics, including lines like "Nataka uwe wangu" and "Wewe ndio kila kitu changu," highlight his growing connection to East African audiences. His work follows a trend of Jamaican musicians engaging with Kenyan and East African artists, expanding cross-cultural musical exchanges.
Nataka uwe wangu Wewe ndio kila kitu changu Sing dis for you baby girl wine pon dis song Nakupenda we never do you wrong nuh Wewe ndio mwenyewe
