Growing up in the beginning of the millennium, the music around me was a mix of benga, Congolese styles like soukous, as well as the new urban sounds emanating from the streets of Nairobi. The early 2000s marked a period that, on one hand, seemed to move away from the culture of the previous decades, while on the other hand, was incorporating influences from that past era.

With the recording industry in Kenya having developed properly in the mid 1960s, with ‘twist’ being the dominating style, the next three decades are often termed as the golden age in Kenyan music. The question of what defines the Kenyan sound can be answered by looking at this period.

This era not only saw our music being exported to other countries and used in big films, but it also witnessed the release of many amazing albums. Here, we have created a list of the top 100 most sold albums in Kenya between 1966 and 1998, covering the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.

The list is dominated by bands like Them Mushrooms, Maroon Commandos as well as compilations. We’ve included the year of release and the label(s) under which these records were released. EMI, AIT Records, Polygram Records, and its subsidiary, Polydor Records, and are quite prominent on the list.

	Album Title	Musician / Band	Year of Release	Label(s)
1.	Mambo Jambo	Safari Sound Band	1997	Kelele Records
2.	Wazee Wa Kazi (Zilizopendwa Collection)	Them Mushrooms	1991	Mushroom Records, Receng Enterprises
3.	Nyimbo Cia Mau-Mau	Joseph Kamaru & The Super Stars	1986	K.M.S.
4.	Explosion	Loketo	1989	Editions D’Ivoire, CBS Records (Kenya) Ltd.
5.	Malaika	Fadhili William And The Malaika Boys	1977	EMI, EMI (East Africa) Ltd.
6.	Les Les Non Stop	Les Wanyika	1990	Polydor, PolyGram Records Ltd.
7.	Karubandika	Orchestra Maquis Original	1986	Ahadi, Flatim Records Agencies
8.	Matata Riots	Makonde	1978	EMI (East Africa) Ltd., Makonde Productions
9.	Zilizopendwa by John Mwale	John Mwale	1982	Mzalendo
10.	Muziki Wa Kiasili (Folk Music Of Kenya)	Various Musicians	1974	A.I.T. Records, G.W. Senoga-Zake
11.	Mazembe	Orchestra Super Mazembe	1980	Editions Mazembe, A.I.T. Records (Kenya) Ltd.
12.	Veya	Mayaula Mayoni	1986	ASL, Polygram Rec. (Disc Orient)
13.	Greatest Hits Volume1	Jamhuri Jazz Band	1971	Philips, Phonogram Limited
14.	MSA-Mombasa	Mombasa Roots	1987	Polydor, Polygram Records
15.	Songs Of Our African Heritage	Bomas Of Kenya	1978	A.I.T. Records, Artone Press, E.I.T. Pub.
16.	Embakasi – 1st Anniversary Album	Orchestre Les Mangelepa	1978	ASL, E. A. Records, Phonogram Limited
17.	Generation 87	Orchestre Generation	1987	Tsavo Records
18.	Amba	T.P. Somo Somo	1982	A.I.T. Records (Kenya) Ltd.
19.	Nguashi Ntimbo Vol. 1	Nguashi Ntimbo	1982	Ntijems
20.	M’Ponayo (À Cause De Toi)	Moya Ringo	1983	ASL, Polygram Records
21.	Something For Someone	Black Savage	1975	EMI (East Africa) Limited
22.	Phonogram Presents Franklin Boukaka	Franklin Boukaka, Manu Dibango –	1972	Philips, Phonogram Limited
23.	Seigneur Tabu Ley Rochereau	Tabu Ley & Orchestre Afrisa	1986	Genidia
24.	Give Love To Your Children	Musi-O-Tunya	1975	M.O.T. Records
25.	Going Places	Them Mushrooms	1988	PolyGram
26.	Magoma Moto	Various musicians	1981	Ken-Tanza, CBS Records (Kenya) Studio
27.	Au Revoir, Chérie…	Fidele Zizi	1983	ASL, Vaudou Music, Polygram Records
28.	Celia	Théo-Blaise Kounkou	1984	Editions Veve, PolyGram
29.	Franco Joue Avec Sam Mangwana	Franco Luambo & Sam Mangwana	1989	Edipop Production, Polygram Records,
30.	Helule	Daudi Kabaka & The T.B. Eagles	1976	Atlantic, A.I.T. Records
31.	Fisherman	The Mighty Cavaliers	1976	Black Blood
32.	Josky Kiambukuta Et Madilu System	Josky Kiambukuta & Madilu System	1989	V.I.S.A. 1980, Edipop Production
33.	Usha In Nairobi	Usha Uthup	1978	EMI, EMI (East Africa) Ltd.
34.	Soukous Non Stop	Fédé Lawu	1989	CBS
35.	Wanawachezea Mfululizo Wa Kibushi	Les Hi-Fives	1972	Philips, Phonogram Limited
36.	Bavon Marie Marie	Bavon Marie-Marie Et L’Orchestre Negro Succes	1970	African, E. A. Records, Phonogram Limited
37.	The Hit Sound Of George Ramogi	George Ramogi	1972	Sungura, A.I.T. Records (Kenya) Ltd.
38.	Folk Music Of East Africa: Volume 1 (Kenya)	Graham Hyslop	1972	Philips
39.	Nalala Kwa Tabu	The Black Warriors	1981	Ken-Tanza, CBS Records (Kenya) Ltd.
40.	Ikwo-Kiri-Kwo	Winam Jazz Band Of Africa	1976	Editions Jicco, Jicco Records Co.
41.	Simanje-Manje And Kwela From Malawi	Donald Kachamba’s Band	1978	A.I.T. Records
42.	Sisi Kwa Sisi	Kelly Brown	1984	CBS, Kelly Brown Production, Top In Town Printing Works, CBS Inc.
43.	Amouzoud Naleli Yo	Meta Beya Et Les Bobongo Stars	1983	ASL, Production Le Vaudou
44.	Ekitobero	Sammy Kasule With African Jambo Jambo	1990	CBS Records (Kenya) Ltd., Mushrooms Sound Lab Nairobi
45.	Vijana Wa Kazi	Kiwiro Boys Band	1979	EMI, Snake, EMI (East Africa) Ltd.
46.	It’s Disco Time	Samba Mapangala & Orchestre Virunga	1981	ASL
47.	The Riot Continues (Mangelepa Kamili – Chapter One)	Orchestre Les Mangelepa	1976	EMI, Phonogram Studio
48.	Almost There	Them Mushrooms	1989	Polydor, PolyGram
49.	Thisha	Thisha	1983	Vuka Afrika, CBS, Priority Records (Pty) Ltd.
50.	Proudly Presents New Dance “Les Les”	Les Wanyika	1979	Polydor, Phonogram Limited
51.	Boya Ye	Mbilia Bel	1988	Genidia
52.	Nidhamu Ya Wafanya Kazi	Mlimani Park Orchestre	1979	Polydor, Phonogram Limited
53.	The New Invaders – Mama Afrika	Them Mushrooms	1981	CBS, CBS Records (Kenya) Studio
54.	dans Africa Dance	Johnny Bokelo	1987	Bemba Records
55.	Usiniambie Unaenda	Maroon Commandos	1981	Ken-Tanza, CBS Records (Kenya) Ltd.
56.	Handas	African Heritage	1985	Not On Label
57.	Missa Luba: 10 Kenyan Folk Melodies	Muungano National Choir	1990	Tamasha
58.	Watoto Wana Haki Zao / Children Have Rights Volume 6	Sachin & Avni Dave	1993	Unicef
59.	Songs From Kenya	Them Mushrooms	1994	Rags Music
60.	Follow The Leader	Korn	1998	Epic, Immortal Records
61.	Amanda	Black Blood	1976	Biram, Philips
62.	Niko Saikini	African Heritage	1984	Not On Label
63.	Dkt Remmy Ongala 89	Remmy Ongala & Orchestre Super Matimila	1989	Ahadi
64.	Best Taarab Vol.1	Various musicians	1988	Not On Label
65.	Karama Zijiri	Zuhura Swaleh, Matano Juma & Orchestra Morning Star	1973	Pwani
66.	Mokili Etonda Makambo	Orchestra Maquis Original	1982	Editions Omaco
67.	Where We Belong	Them Mushrooms	1991	Mushroom Records
68.	Salaam Za Mtwangaji 95 Vol. 7	Muungano Cultural Troupe	1995	Not On Label
69.	The Best Of African Songs	Safari Sound Band	1984	Polydor, PolyGram Records Ltd.
70.	Mwana Mazembe	Orch. Super Mazembe	1978	EMI (East Africa) Ltd.
71.	Pepe Kalle & Nyboma	Empire Bakuba	1986	ASL
72.	Nkolo Mboka Vol. 1	Zaiko Langa-Langa	1983	ASL
73.	Wanawachezea Mfululizo Wa Muziki	Dr. & Mrs. Adams Nyahone & Orchestre King Daho Success	1972	Polydor
74.	Bonya Kuche	Maroon Commandos	1990	Polydor, PolyGram Records Ltd.
75.	Fatouma	Zoe Matondo And African All Stars	1982	ASL, PolyGram Records Ltd.
76.	Munga Francisca (One Hell Of A Selection)	Bholen & Orch. Negro Succes	1984	ASL, PolyGram Records Ltd.
77.	Pole	George Peter Kinyonga & Orch. Jobiso	1991	Polydor
78.	Kawere	Kawere Boys	1979	EMI, Snake, EMI (East Africa) Ltd.
79.	Orchestra Winam Jazz Band	Winam Jazz Band	1976	Awendo Rakido
80.	Abagusii	Mosaiga Boka Boka	1979	EMI (East Africa) Ltd., Snake
81.	Victoria Jazz Band	Victoria Jazz Band	1974	Sungura
82.	Sigalame II	Issa Juma and Super Wanyika Stars	1986	Editions FrancAfrique, ACPI,
83.	Come Back To Africa	Ochieng Kabaselleh& Lunna Kidi Band	1990	Atinga, PolyGram Records Ltd.
84.	Paix Au Tchad	L’International Challal	1986	ASL
85.	Explosion Bonana ’85	L’Orchestre Tiers Monde	1986	Alia Music, ASL, Polygram Records
86.	L’Evénement! Rochereau Et Franco A Paris	Tabu-Ley Rochereau & Franco Luambo	1983	Genidia
87.	Mwakira Niki?	Francis Rugwiti With The Banana Hill Band	1978	Warner Bros. Records
88.	Super Kumba	Manu Dibango	1975	Fiesta, Société Française Du Son, E. A. Records
89.	Jiburudisheni Na Simba Wanyika Vol. 1	Wilson Peter Kinyonga & A.J.B. Simba Wanyika	1975	Polydor
90.	Cost Of Living Is Too High	William Mthethwa & The Young Five	1987	World Record Co., A.I. Records (Kenya) Ltd.
91.	Shikamoo	Maroon Commandos	1991	Polydor, PolyGram Records Ltd.
92.	Maisha Si Nguvu	George Peter Kinyonga & Orchestre Jobiso	1988	Polydor, PolyGram Records Ltd.
93.	Osibisa	Osibisa	1972	MCA Records, MCA Records, Inc.
94.	L’Avenir	Bozi Boziana Et L’Anti-Choc	1991	Editions D’Ivoire
95.	Professor Junior	Abbu Omar	1989	Polydor, PolyGram Records Ltd.
96.	Souvénir Propré	Dr. Nico & L’ African Fiesta Sukisa	1988	ASL, PolyGram Records Ltd.
97.	Attack	The Stukas	1974	Pathé, EMI (East Africa) Ltd., Dum Dum Production
98.	Mégamix Vol.1	Lokassa & Soukous Stars	1989	Editions D’Ivoire, CBS Records
99.	Pokea Salamu	Habel Kifoto & Maroon Commandos	1991	Tamasha
100.	Dance Caneton A L’aisement	International Minzoto	1983	Editions Veve International, Polygram Records
101.	Generation 87	Orchestre Generation	1987	Tsavo Records