Young Lunya
A rapper of Dar es Salaam, Young Lunya is one of the most respected pens of Bongo Rap, Tanzania's first hip-hop artist signed by Sony Music Entertainment Africa.
Young Lunya was born and grew up in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He first became known as a member of the OMG group before launching his solo career in 2019. His precise writing, disciplined flow and his narrative art rooted in Swahili culture quickly distinguished him on the East African rap scene.
His freestyle sessions broadcast online — the Freestyle Sessions — transform him into one of the region's most visible rap voices. In 2022, his first solo single "Vitu Vingi" was a success: he won the same year the award for the best hip-hop song and the award for the men's hip-hop artist of the year at the Tanzania Music Awards.
Young Lunya then entered the story as the first Tanzanian hip-hop artist signed by Sony Music Entertainment Africa. His album "Mbuzi" and tracks like "Stupid", with Kenyan rapper Khaligraph Jones, confirmed his status, until his appointment to Trace Awards 2025 as Best Hip Hop Artist, against Nasty C, Sarkodie, Odumodublvck and Didi B.