Nikita Kering, an R&B musical powerhouse from Nairobi, Kenya drew music lovers to her corner when she was only 10 years old. Twelve years later, she is rightfully Kenya’s queen of R&B with big hits such as ‘Ex’ and ‘Tragedy’ among others. She recently stole the show with a glamourous performance at the Blankets and Wine Festival held in Nairobi. At 22, she has accomplished a lot in her music career – she says this is just a start. More is coming!
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Is Nikita Kering a Kenyan?
She comes from the Kalenjin tribe, Kenya’s second-largest community in the country. Her birth name is Nikita Chepchumba Kering’ born on 26th February 2002. Kering attended the prestigious Riara Springs Academy, Kilimani Junior Academy, and Brookhouse International School. She then joined Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts on a partial scholarship to further her music career.
How Did She Start Singing?
22-year-old Kenyan R&B artist Nikita Kering. Photo/Tuko
A performance at the Child Peace Awards in 2012 when she was 10 years old brought Nikita Kering to the limelight. She later performed at an album launch by Nigerian-based Kenyan gospel singer Emmy Kosgei and EmPawa Africa caught her talent. EmPawa was founded by Nigerian artist and entrepreneur Mr Eazi to empower and elevate upcoming African artists.
She signed with the label which facilitated training and mentoring programs that moulded her into the fine artist she is. A huge part of her training involved songwriting, music production and networking with accomplished artists. All done, the Kenyan artist released her first commercial hit single Tragedy under EmPawa Africa in 2019 and it blew up.
Speaking to Apple’s Music Rising Stars podcast hosted by Nadeska Alexis in 2021, Kering admitted it wasn’t easy convincing her parents about a music career. It took time and numerous discussions for her parents to share her musical dream. She said that she understood why they were hesitant at first.
They wanted more from her outside the showbiz industry, one of the reasons why they took her to the most prestigious school in the country. There were moments of defiance from her to the point her father caved in half-heartedly. He told her to pursue her music dream, make mistakes and move on.
What Label is Nikita Kering Signed to?
Kenyan R&B artist Nikita Kering. Photo/BoomPlay
Nikita Kering signed with Universal Music Africa (UMA) in 2020, a year after her viral debut hit with Mr Eazi’s label. UMA is a subsidiary of American-based Universal Music. She released her debut Extended Play (EP) A Side of Me in 2021 under the label. Her all-time hit ‘Ex’ was in this EP which further elevated her in Africa’s R&B industry. Other songs in A Side of Me include the following:
- Forget
- Where You Been
- Never Let You Go
- Crossing Lines
- Better Than Ever
- (Acoustic) Never Let You Go
The EP did exceedingly well in and out of the country, inviting a second EP ‘The Other Side’ in 2023 with seven tracks namely:
- On Yah
- Last Name
- Love Outside
- Falling Down
- Get Through
- Unrelatable
- Save Me
- Get Through
Despite the success of her first EP with Universal Music Africa, there seems to be trouble in paradise. The gifted R&B singer sent subliminal messages on her Instagram in February 2024 on her regrets signing with a ‘certain label’. She did not name the label but stated that her signing with it was a poor judgment call.
She recalled Bien, the lead vocalist of Kenyan boy band Sauti Sol cautioning her against signing with any label after leaving EmPawa Africa. Bien had advised her to chart her course as an independent artist but she thought otherwise since she had a solid team behind her. The Get Through artist believed that this team would take care of all her concerns in the contract between her and the label.
Unfortunately, she would later learn that there is always a loophole in most contracts no matter how tight it may seem.
“When someone warns you about something, just listen. Bien about two years ago, probably he doesn’t even remember; he told me, ‘Nikita, just stay independent,’” she wrote.
She revealed that her contractual affiliation with the label brought a lot of mental strain, unhappiness and depression.
Kenyan RnB artist Nikita Kering performing at a past event. Photo/Nairobi News
Awards
Her music career since she was 17 has been gracious over the years earning her awards as listed below.
- Pulse Music Video Awards (PMVA) for Best New Artiste (2018)
- All Africa Music Awards for Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa (2019)
- All Africa Music Awards for Revelation of the African Continent (2019)
- All Africa Music Awards for Best RnB and Soul Artist (2021)
- All Africa Music Awards for Best Female Artiste East Africa (2021)
FAQs
- Is Nikita Kering Married?
She isn’t married yet. There were rumours that she was dating Lil Maina, an Arbantone artist but they cleared the air that their ‘dating’ was staged for work purposes.
- What is her net worth?
Her estimated net worth in 2024 is north of $200,000 (Ksh26 million).
