Maandy

Maandy

Maandy performing in 2023
Background information
Birth name	Amanda Wambui
Born	Jan 1, 1997 (age 28) Nairobi, Kenya
Genres	Gengetone Hip hop Trap
Occupations	Rapper Singer Songwriter
Years active	2019–present
Labels	Fast Cash Music Group

Maandy (born Amanda Wambui), also known by the stage name Kabaya, is a Kenyan rapper, singer, and songwriter from Dagoretti, Nairobi. Her music blends rapid-fire trap, hip hop grit and dancehall rhythms.

Maandy first gained attention in the mid-2010s; after graduating high school she worked as a DJ (under the name DJ Maandy). She entered the public eye in 2016 by featuring on rapper Khaligraph Jones’s “#YesBanaFreestyle”.

In 2019 she released her debut album Kabaya, which featured the hit singles “Hivi Na Hivo”, “Sirudi Home”, “Shash na Lip Gloss” and “BTW”. This was followed by her second album Frisky in 2021 and Flavour in 2023. In 2023 she was named Spotify’s EQUAL Africa artist of the month for May, recognizing her prominence in Kenya’s hip hop scene.

Early life

Maandy was born Amanda Wambui and raised in the Dagoretti area of Nairobi, where she spent her formative years immersed in the neighbourhood’s vibrant street culture. She first began experimenting with freestyles at around 16, uploading short rap clips and DJ mixes to Instagram under the name “DJ Maandy,” a playful twist on her given name.

By age 17, she was performing as a disc jockey at private parties and local nightclubs, honing the stage presence and crowd-reading skills that would later define her rap performances. In these early sets, she learned to blend spoken word, freestyle rap, and music mixing, an experience she describes as “my first classroom in performance.”

After completing secondary school, Maandy shifted her focus fully to recording original music. She recalls that positive feedback on her online freestyles convinced her to transition from DJing to songwriting and vocal performance. Encouraged by friends who admired her unique energy and lyrical flow, she began writing in Sheng and English, laying the groundwork for her debut EP and eventual breakthrough in Kenya’s hip-hop scene.

Music career

Maandy began her music career in 2016 by uploading freestyles and original tracks to YouTube and Instagram under the name “DJ Maandy,” quickly building a grassroots following.

Her debut EP, Kabaya, was released in 2019 and featured the singles “Hivi Na Hivo,” “Sirudi Home,” “Shash na Lip Gloss,” and “BTW,” which established her as one of Nairobi’s most promising new rappers.

In 2021, Maandy followed up with the EP Frisky, which she described as showcasing both her vulnerable and hard-edged sides: “with Frisky, I wanted fans to see both sides—vulnerable and hard; that duality is me.” The project blended trap beats with introspective lyrics and reinforced her reputation for fearless self-expression.

Her first full-length album, Flavour, arrived in 2023 and further cemented her hybrid sound by fusing rapid-fire trap flows, gengetone rhythms, and dancehall elements. Maandy explained, “my music slips between rapid-fire trap and bouncy gengetone because that’s Nairobi—it’s hybrid.”

Alongside her own projects, Maandy has collaborated with leading Kenyan artists. Her 2022 track with Breeder LW drew praise for its chemistry—“Breeder LW is the real deal; when we linked up I knew we’d make fire,” she said. She also featured on Mejja’s “Ka Unaweza” and released “Aloo” featuring Ajay in 2024. Other notable collaborations include Ywaya Tajiri on “Baddies Need Love” and Okello Max on “Si Kawaida.” She regularly appears on KTN Home and Obinna TV, bringing her live energy to televised audiences.

In May 2023, Maandy was named Spotify’s EQUAL Africa artist of the month, a milestone that boosted her streaming numbers and continental profile. That same year she announced her “Nairobae Baby” tour, described as “a love letter to Nairobi,” which took her music to major cities across Kenya. Reflecting on life on the road, she noted, “tour life is tough but I can’t wait to bring this energy outside the studio.”

Influences and musical style

Maandy’s style is deliberately multi-genre. Critics have noted that her music “slips between rapid-fire trap, hip hop grit and bouncy dancehall”. She often incorporates the rhythmic elements of East African dancehall (sometimes called “arbantone” or gengetone) alongside trap beats.

In interviews she has cited American hip hop influences; for example, she has said she draws inspiration from rapper Nicki Minaj and models parts of her persona on Nicki’s confident style. Onstage and in music videos, Maandy projects a bold, femme-fatale image. She has been described as one of the leading figures of Kenya’s new gengetone wave.

Overall, Maandy characterizes her own music as a fearless blend of genres and influences, unconfined to a single style.

Collaborations and notable performances

Maandy has collaborated with several prominent Kenyan artists throughout her career. In 2022, she teamed up with rapper Breeder LW on a high-energy track; she recalled, “Breeder LW is the real deal; when we linked up I knew we’d make fire.” She also appeared on Mejja’s single “Ka Unaweza,” showcasing her ability to adapt to different rap styles.

In early 2024, Maandy released the single “Aloo” featuring Ajay, which received airplay on radio stations nationwide. Reflecting on the collaboration, she said, “On KTN Home I felt nervous, but it showed me TV is another level of performance.”

Other notable guest appearances include Ywaya Tajiri’s “Baddies Need Love” and Okello Max’s “Si Kawaida,” both of which further expanded her footprint in the East African music scene.

Maandy is also a sought-after live performer. She has delivered energetic sets on television programs such as KTN Home and Obinna TV and has appeared at major Nairobi events, including the Umoja Splash Festival and Madaraka Day concerts, where her dynamic stage presence earned praise from both fans and critics.

Awards and recognition

Maandy has received increasing recognition in recent years. In 2023 she was selected as Spotify’s EQUAL Africa artist for May, an honor spotlighting rising female African musicians.

That year she also earned nominations at Kenyan music award shows; for example, she was nominated for Gengetone Artist of the Year at the UnKut Hip Hop Awards 2023.

Music outlets have praised her work and noted her role in advancing Kenyan hip hop. Her albums and singles have achieved popular success, and she is considered one of the prominent young rappers in East Africa.

Public image and advocacy

Maandy is known for her outspoken and unapologetic public image. She embraces the label of Kenya’s “bad girl” of rap, a persona she consciously crafted in part by citing Nicki Minaj as an influence.

In interviews she has emphasized creative freedom and empowerment: “I have the liberty to talk about whatever I want in my music, I want to see how far I can take it,” she said in a 2021 interview.

Maandy’s lyrics and statements often address themes of female empowerment and breaking gender norms. As an example of her advocacy, when named a Spotify EQUAL ambassador she commented that she finally felt “seen and appreciated for [her] work as a woman” in a male-dominated industry, and urged that women have “just as much right to occupy these spaces as [men]”. Her public statements and songs frequently encourage confidence and liberation for young women.

External links

• Official Maandy YouTube channel