Sofiya Nzau, born Sofia Wanjiku, is a Kenyan singer and songwriter who gained international fame after collaborating with Brazilian DJ Zerb on the viral global hit “Mwaki,” which features most of its lyrics in the Kikuyu language.
Recently, Sofiya’s track, “Your Love,” appeared on the EA Sports FC 26 soundtrack, as well as being the talk of the town, following her milestone of becoming the first East African artist ever to score 10 million monthly Spotify listeners.
From her talent and hard work, she became the first Kenyan artist to perform at the iconic Tomorrowland Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festival in Boom, Belgium, in July 2025, where she made history by sharing the stage with global EDM powerhouse Steve Aoki.
At the EDM festivals, her performance was seen as a significant moment for African representation on a central global stage, acting as a pivot for the rise of Afro-house, Afropop music, and the Kikuyu language in mainstream music, as well as shaping an appearance as a landmark achievement for both her career and the Kenyan music industry.
Sofiya began her singing journey in a village church choir and worship teams before transitioning to a professional career in secular dance music.
Educational Background and Early Life
Sofiya Wanjiku was born on 20 February 1993, and most of her details are not publicized.
Growing up in a rural area in Miruri, Githumu, Murang’a County, she participated heavily in church choirs and school performances, noting that during her school years, singing was a hobby rather than a career she envisioned.
She completed her high school education in her home village before moving to Thika and later Nairobi for work.
Sofiya’s Career Background
Before her musical success, she worked as a street vendor and domestic helper (house help) in Thika until 2020, when she turned to songwriting during the COVID-19 pandemic, with her husband, a music producer, supporting her.
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Sofiya says her inspiration comes from legendary Kenyan artists such as Joseph Kamaru and Eric Wainaina, which is why most of her music is in her native language, an indication of a strong sense of belonging and patriotism.
Some of her hits include Mwaki, released in 2023, and Zerb, her breakout single that amassed over 315 million streams by mid-2025.
It features numerous official remixes from Tiësto, Major Lazer, and Franky Wah.
Wacuka is a song she did with AVAION, a 2025 collaboration that has surpassed 60 million Spotify streams and has become particularly popular in the German electronic scene.
She also did Kumbaya in collaboration with Zerb & Izzy Bizu in 2025, a release featuring remixes from artists like Austin Millz and Kilimanjaro.
2024 hits like Mwanake, Where Do We Come From, META, and Digane are also tracks she recorded with known collaborators, adding to her 2022/2023 compositions, which include Hurt No More, Kúra, Saufiya, and Kenya, recorded with El Porto in 2023.
Achievements
Tomorrowland- She became the first Kenyan and East African artist to perform at Tomorrowland 2025, one of the world’s most iconic EDM festivals.
International Recognition- By late 2025, she was headlining global stages and consistently appearing on international charts.
Spotify Recognition – While artists like Bien and Njerae topped local charts in Kenya, Sofiya was highlighted by Spotify as a key ‘titan of export,’ carrying the Kenyan sound, specifically her “Kikuyu House” style, to international audiences.
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Top Songs – Her 2025 collaboration “Wacuka” with AVAION appeared as an honorable mention in global house music recaps and year-end playlists, and her signature track “Mwaki,” which was her most famous work in 2024, continued to perform strongly, making her the first East African artist to reach 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Most Listened Kenyan Artist – For a better part of 2025, she held the title of the most listened-to Kenyan artist on Spotify, maintaining a massive lead with over 10 million monthly listeners for a significant portion of the year.
YouTube Dominance – in 2025, she was confirmed as the most-watched female Kenyan artist on YouTube in 2025, recording a massive 147 million views over the 12 months.
Family Background
Sofiya’s parents are farmers in Miruri, Murang’a County, as she grew up in a family that owned a tea plantation. She has shared that she spent days plucking tea while singing loudly with her father, whom she describes as a very talented singer.
She is married to Mr. Nzau, a music producer who has been instrumental in her career, whom she says invited her to join a church worship team and eventually encouraged her to write songs in her native Kikuyu language, believing her voice was more potent in her mother tongue, thus becoming a central part of her growth, and are together blessed to be parents to an undisclosed number of children.
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