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About Rayvanny
Rayvanny (born Raymond Shaban Mwakyusa on 22 August 1993 in Mbeya, Tanzania) is a Tanzanian singer and songwriter and one of the leading figures in Bongo Flava, East Africa's dominant pop sound. He sings mainly in Swahili and is among the most successful artists ever to come out of the Mbeya region.
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Who is Rayvanny?
Rayvanny (born Raymond Shaban Mwakyusa on 22 August 1993 in Mbeya, Tanzania) is a Tanzanian singer and songwriter and one of the leading figures in Bongo Flava, East Africa's dominant pop sound. He sings mainly in Swahili and is among the most successful artists ever to come out of the Mbeya region.
Career
He began making music in 2011 while still in high school and rose to fame in 2016 with "Kwetu". After breaking through under the WCB Wasafi label, he later founded and now leads his own label, Next Level Music, mentoring a new generation of East African talent.
Records and global reach
Rayvanny holds several landmark achievements: he was among the first Tanzanian/African acts to perform on the MTV EMA stage, the first Tanzanian act to clock 100 million streams on Boomplay, and the only Tanzanian artist to win a BET Award. His blend of catchy Afro-pop melody and Bongo Flava rhythm has made him a genuine continental star.
International collaborations
In 2019 he reached a global audience with "Pepeta" alongside Nora Fatehi, and in 2026 the pair reunited on Champions (Fi Kol Makan), a celebratory Afrobeats-and-dance anthem.
