Apple Music Names Ywaya Tajiri to Up Next
The Nairobi singer-songwriter joins Apple Music's East African Up Next program as his debut solo EP arrives.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Reggae
Apple Music has selected Kenyan singer-songwriter Ywaya Tajiri as its latest East African Up Next artist. The selection coincides with the release of his six-track debut solo EP, Wingu la Mapenzi.
Why it matters
The Up Next program is designed to build audiences for emerging artists through editorial support and playlist placement across Apple Music's regional and global services. For international listeners, it offers an entry point into the East African music scene centered in Nairobi.
Tajiri's debut solo EP, Wingu la Mapenzi, contains six tracks and is anchored by the single 'Chai ya Saa Kumi'. No streaming or chart figures for the release have been reported yet.
The players
Ywaya Tajiri
A Nairobi-based Kenyan singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and educator who has written for other East African artists.
Apple Music
The streaming service operated by Apple that runs the Up Next artist development program featuring emerging musicians.
The details
Tajiri previously contributed songwriting credits to Okello Max's 'Taya' and Watendawili's 'Cham Thum', and first gained wider attention with the duo Watendawili and the collective KODONGKLAN. He has performed at Blankets & Wine, Sol Fest, Folk Fusion and Woza World, and mentors emerging musicians in vocal performance and lyric writing.
Timeline
Tajiri first gained wider attention with Watendawili and KODONGKLAN (date not specified).
Apple Music announced Tajiri as an East African Up Next artist on November 7, 2026, the same day his debut EP launched.
Industry Dynamics
The Up Next program has previously helped launch the careers of Burna Boy, Tems, Rema, Billie Eilish, H.E.R. and Bad Bunny, and Tajiri's selection extends that model into East African music. It reflects streaming platforms' growing use of curated editorial programs to surface regional artists to global audiences.
Listeners can stream Wingu la Mapenzi and follow Tajiri's work through Apple Music's Up Next playlists. The program's regional and global placements may make his music available to audiences outside East Africa.
The takeaway
Programs like Up Next can give emerging regional artists a route to international listeners, and Tajiri's debut EP is a current test of that pathway. Following artists across multiple releases and collaborations offers a clearer picture of their development than a single launch.
Further reading
Explore more East African sounds in our Reggae coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kenya Today.
