Navy Kenzo

Navy Kenzo unites award-winning producer and singer/rapper Nahreel with singer/rapper Aika to merge hip-hop, pop, R&B, and Tanzanian Bongo Flava. After earlier successes that included the 2015 single "Game" featuring Vanessa Mdee, the pair issued their first official album, AIM (Above in a Minute), in 2017.

A couple since meeting as students in India in 2008, Nahreel (Emmanuel Mkono) and Aika both belonged to Tanzania's Pah One during the early 2010s and launched Navy Kenzo in 2013. Their recordings combine multiple styles with lyrics in English and Swahili, scoring an initial breakthrough via "Chelewa (Bokodo)" in 2014. Later hits encompassed 2015's "Game" featuring Vanessa Mdee and 2016's "Kamatia," after which they delivered the official debut full-length AIM (Above in a Minute) on the Industry Studios label in early 2017.

The duo sustained momentum with independent dance-pop singles such as 2018's "Fella" and "Katika" featuring Diamond Platnumz, then returned with the album Story of the African Mob in 2020. Among its contributors were U.K. rapper Tiggs Da Author and Ghanaian musician Mugeez.