Redsan at 30: 5 things Gen Z may not know about Kenya’s dancehall icon
By Katemarthason Okudo, August 21, 2026Kenyan musician Redsan is marking 30 years in the music industry, giving a new generation a chance to look back at the journey of one of the country’s best-known dancehall and reggae artistes.
From his early days in Nairobi to becoming a familiar name across East Africa, Redsan has built a career around a sound that brought dancehall closer to Kenyan audiences.
As he prepares for his Redsan at 30 concert at Nairobi’s Carnivore Grounds on August 29, 2026, here are five things Gen Z may not know about the veteran artiste.
Redsan is Kenyan, not Jamaican
Despite his Jamaican-influenced dancehall sound, Redsan is Kenyan.
Born Swabri Mohammed, the artiste grew up in Nairobi and developed an interest in reggae and dancehall music at a young age. His style was heavily influenced by international artistes such as Shaggy and Beenie Man.
In an earlier interview, Redsan explained that he wanted to become one of the artistes helping to establish dancehall in Africa. “I grew up listening to reggae, and I loved the sound and wanted to be the first artiste to contribute to it in Africa,” he said.
His rise began with Star search
Redsan’s professional journey dates back to the 1990s. He won the Star Search competition at Nairobi’s Carnivore in 1998, a moment that helped open more doors for the young musician.
He later became involved with Ogopa Deejays, one of the groups that helped shape Kenya’s modern music industry. His first album, Seasons of the San, was released in 2002 and featured songs including ‘Julie’ and ‘Wanipa Raha’.
From Ogopa Deejays to dancehall fame
After establishing himself, Redsan continued building his solo career with albums such as Red and Pioneer. Songs including ‘Chicken’, ‘Malaika’, ‘Kenyan’, ‘Touch’, ‘Badder Than Most’ and ‘Shoulder Back’ helped him maintain his place in the regional music scene.
His collaborations also took him beyond Kenya, working with artistes from Uganda, Tanzania and other parts of Africa.
Why his music still connects
Redsan’s music has remained familiar to listeners because his dancehall sound was never limited to one generation. His catalogue continues to appear on streaming platforms, while songs such as ‘Shoulder Back’ remain part of Kenyan music nostalgia.
His recent releases also show that he has continued making music rather than relying only on his older hits.
Three decades of milestones
Redsan’s longevity is perhaps one of his biggest achievements. From competing in Star Search to performing internationally and releasing several albums, his career has stretched across different eras of Kenyan music.
He is now set to celebrate that journey with Redsan at 30 at Carnivore Grounds on Saturday, August 29. The concert is expected to bring together artistes from Kenya and beyond, including Jose Chameleone, Bebe Cool, AY, TID, Jua Cali, Wyre and Nazizi.
The event will give fans who grew up with his music an opportunity to revisit some of his biggest songs while introducing his three-decade journey to younger listeners who may know the music but not the story behind it.
Thirty years on, Redsan’s career remains a reminder of how early Kenyan dancehall helped shape the country’s wider popular music scene.