The 10 Richest Female Musicians in East Africa and the Empires They’ve Built

East Africa’s female musicians are no longer just entertainers. They are property owners, entrepreneurs, brand ambassadors, and business executives who have turned their fame into formidable financial empires. From beachfront mansions in Mombasa to clothing lines in Kampala, these women are redefining what it means to be wealthy in the region.

Here is our definitive ranking of the top 10 richest female musicians in East Africa in 2025 — complete with their estimated net worth, business ventures, luxury assets, and the lifestyle that comes with being at the very top.

1. Akothee (Kenya) — Estimated Net Worth: $10 Million

Born Esther Akoth Kokeyo in Migori County, Kenya, Akothee is the undisputed queen of wealth among East Africa’s female artists. Her journey from teenage mother and house help to multimillionaire is one of the region’s most compelling rags-to-riches stories.

Business Ventures: Akothee has built an empire that extends well beyond music. Her flagship venture, Akothee Safaris, is a fully licensed tour and travel company handling air ticketing, hotel reservations, corporate travel, and events management. She also runs Akothee Homes, a real estate development company that constructs and sells high-end properties across Kenya. Her hospitality arm, Aknotela, provides premium accommodation. She also earns significantly from brand endorsements, having worked with Rosy Tissues, Sunrice, Umoja Shoes, Peptang, Orchid Valley, and Ruai Family Hospital, among others. Her Akothee Foundation rounds out her public profile, focusing on women’s empowerment and child welfare.

Properties: Her beachfront home in Mombasa is valued at over 100 million Kenyan shillings Tuko, featuring sixteen bedrooms, a swimming pool, and 20 security cameras. She also owns a sprawling property in Rongo, Migori County, known as RongoSpa, complete with a farm and landscaped grounds. Internationally, she owns properties in Normandy, France, and two homes in Switzerland — one in Zurich and one in Lugano — which analysts value in the tens of millions of dollars.

Cars: Akothee’s fleet includes Toyota Land Cruisers, a Range Rover, and a Mercedes-Benz KISII FINEST, and she has been linked to reports of a private jet.

Jewellery & Lifestyle: Akothee is notorious for her flamboyant displays of wealth on social media, including designer wardrobes, exotic vacation destinations, and high-end jewellery. In 2016, she made headlines when she bought herself a $220,000 Rolls-Royce. FurtherAfrica

2. Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania) — Estimated Net Worth: $6–8 Million

Known as Vee Money, Vanessa Hau Mdee rose from being Tanzania’s first-ever MTV VJ to one of East Africa’s most recognisable music and media personalities. Though she stepped back from active music-making around 2020 after relocating to the United States with her husband, American actor Rotimi, her business footprint and catalogue continue to generate income.

Business Ventures: Vanessa’s wealth was built through hit singles, high-profile television hosting gigs across Africa, radio presenting, endorsement deals with major brands including Coca-Cola, Airtel, and Crown Paints, and fashion and media investments. She also served as a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador focused on youth empowerment and gender equality — a role that raised her international profile considerably. Her media versatility, spanning MTV Africa, ITV Tanzania, and radio hosting, gave her income streams most musicians never access.

Properties: Based in Atlanta, USA, she owns property in the United States following her marriage to Rotimi. Her Tanzanian-era assets included real estate in Dar es Salaam.

Cars & Lifestyle: Vanessa was known for her impeccable style and luxury fashion during her peak East African years, regularly appearing at the MTV Africa Music Awards red carpet and featuring in high-end brand campaigns.

Notable Achievements: She was the first Tanzanian to win the MTV VJ Search competition. Awards from the All Africa Music Awards and Kilimanjaro Music Awards have anchored her legacy in the region.

3. Nandy (Tanzania) — Estimated Net Worth: $2–3 Million

Faustina Charles Mfinanga, known simply as Nandy and often called the African Princess, is Tanzania’s most celebrated active female musician. Since winning the TECNO Own The Stage competition in 2015, she has built a powerful brand that extends well beyond her Bongo Flava sound.

Business Ventures: Nandy’s income derives from hit singles, live shows, endorsements with major brands like Coca-Cola, and acting roles in TV shows. Campuscybercafe She has also pursued philanthropic work in education, lending her brand to causes that have strengthened her public image and attract further corporate partnerships. Her social media following across Instagram and YouTube generates additional revenue through sponsored content.

Properties: Nandy owns a home in Dar es Salaam. As her star continues to rise, her real estate investments are expected to grow alongside her brand value.

Cars & Jewellery: She is regularly spotted in luxury vehicles and has developed a refined, high-end personal style that reflects her growing wealth and influence.

Awards: She has been named Best Female Artist in East Africa at multiple editions of the All Africa Music Awards, a title that cements her premium positioning for endorsement deals across the region.

4. Sheebah Karungi (Uganda) — Estimated Net Worth: $1.5–3.5 Million

Samali Sheebah Karungi, known on stage as Queen Karma, is without question Uganda’s richest and most powerful female musician. She rose from the Kawempe suburbs of Kampala — initially as a dancer, later as a solo artist — and has turned her fame into a diverse business portfolio.

Business Ventures: Under her Sheebah Investments program, she has opened a number of businesses around Kampala including The Red Bar, Red Events (co-owned with dancer Cathy Patra), a hair extension business called Sheebah by Natna, and others. HipHopKit She also launched Sheebah Collections, a clothing line, and through her Sheebah Establishments Company, she manufactures Holic Pads — a feminine hygiene product designed to support Ugandan women. This venture speaks directly to her feminist brand identity. She was also appointed Vice President of the Uganda National Musicians Federation in 2024.

Properties: Sheebah owns a large mansion in Kampala and is also the proud owner of a private boat — an unusual asset for a musician in the region, which underlines her level of wealth.

Cars: She is known to maintain a fleet of high-end vehicles befitting her Queen Karma persona.

Acting: Sheebah made her international acting debut in the 2016 film Queen of Katwe — the Disney movie starring Lupita Nyong’o — playing the character Shakira, which boosted her global recognition.

5. Lady Jaydee (Tanzania) — Estimated Net Worth: $1.5–2 Million

Judith Wambura Mbibo, known as Lady Jaydee and dubbed the Queen of Bongo, is one of Tanzania’s most enduring and respected female artists. With a career spanning more than two decades, she has outlasted trends and built genuine lasting wealth.

Business Ventures: Beyond music, Lady Jaydee has invested in real estate in Dar es Salaam. She has held brand deals with major Tanzanian companies and has leveraged her veteran status to command premium performance fees at regional and international shows. She has also been involved in television and entertainment production behind the scenes.

Properties: She owns residential and investment properties in Tanzania, and her longevity in the industry has allowed her to build a stable property portfolio over time.

Cars & Lifestyle: Lady Jaydee is known for a refined, understated lifestyle compared to some of her flashier counterparts, investing her wealth conservatively into long-term assets.

Awards: She is a multiple award winner at the Tanzania Music Awards and the All Africa Music Awards, with a catalogue that remains commercially relevant across the region.

6. Spice Diana (Uganda) — Estimated Net Worth: $1–1.5 Million

Hajjat Teopista Namazzi, known by her stage name Spice Diana, has emerged as one of Uganda’s most commercially savvy young female artists. Since her breakthrough in 2016, she has grown into a brand that commands serious attention from Uganda’s corporate sector.

Business Ventures: Spice Diana has earned significantly from brand endorsements with companies including Airtel Uganda, MTN Uganda, and various local brands. She has invested in event management and music production. She also runs a music label and has been actively building her presence on digital streaming platforms, adding global income streams to her local revenue base.

Properties: She owns property in Kampala and has invested in real estate as her career has matured.

Cars: Spice Diana is regularly seen in premium SUVs, and she has publicly shown off vehicles gifted by fans and brands at milestone events in her career.

Jewellery & Style: She is known for a bold, glamorous public image, frequently showcasing high-end jewellery and designer outfits in her performances and social media content.

7. Lydia Jazmine (Uganda) — Estimated Net Worth: $1 Million

Sandra Suubi, known professionally as Lydia Jazmine, is one of Uganda’s most consistent and respected female vocalists. Her ability to blend Afrobeat with traditional Ugandan sounds has earned her a loyal following and steady commercial success.

Business Ventures: Lydia Jazmine has built income through brand ambassadorial deals, live performances, and strategic collaborations with Uganda’s top male acts. She has also invested in real estate and has been thoughtful about building her financial portfolio outside of music, including events and media appearances.

Properties: She owns residential property in Kampala and is known for making conservative, long-term investments.

Cars & Lifestyle: She projects an elegant, polished public image and is known for her sophisticated fashion sense and quiet luxury lifestyle.

8. Rema Namakula (Uganda) — Estimated Net Worth: $1.3 Million

Rema Namakula is one of Uganda’s most beloved female artists, known for her soulful voice and emotionally resonant lyrics. Her marriage to Ugandan footballer Hamza Sebagala added a high-profile dimension to her public persona, but her wealth stands on its own merit.

Business Ventures: Rema earns from concerts, endorsement deals, and appearances. She has made investments in the hospitality and beauty sectors and is known to be building her real estate portfolio steadily. She has also earned from gospel-oriented music projects and collaborations that have expanded her fanbase beyond mainstream pop.

Properties: Rema and her husband own a home in Kampala. She has made real estate investments that have grown in value alongside her career.

Cars & Jewellery: She is known for tasteful displays of wealth and has been photographed in luxury vehicles and premium jewellery at major events and on her social media pages.

9. Size 8 (Kenya) — Estimated Net Worth: $1–1.5 Million

Linet Munyali, known as Size 8, began her career as one of Kenya’s hottest secular artists before making a very public transition to gospel music. The switch did not slow her commercial momentum — it opened a new, deeply loyal market and a range of new business opportunities.

Business Ventures: Size 8 has invested in real estate and operates an active business in event hosting and gospel concerts. She also runs a media production company with her husband, DJ Mo, and the couple have built a visible joint brand that generates income through YouTube, social media content, television appearances, and joint endorsements. Their family lifestyle brand is one of Kenya’s most-watched digital content plays.

Properties: Size 8 and DJ Mo own a home in Nairobi. She has also been involved in real estate investment projects alongside her husband.

Cars: The family owns a range of vehicles including an SUV, frequently featured in their social media content.

Jewellery & Faith Brand: She has built a jewellery and fashion persona tied to her faith identity, attracting sponsors in the Christian market sector.

10. Ruth Matete (Kenya/Uganda) — Honourable Mention

While Ruth Matete’s net worth is harder to pin down with precision, her trajectory as a gospel musician and her All Africa Music Awards win make her a name worth including as one of the region’s rising female artists with growing commercial value.

A Note on Net Worth Estimates

It is important to note that net worth figures for East African musicians are rarely verified by independent financial auditors. The figures cited in this article represent the best available estimates from reputable entertainment and finance publications as of 2025, including Forbes Africa reports, industry sources, and credible entertainment outlets. Actual figures may vary depending on assets, liabilities, and income changes. Currency fluctuations between the Kenyan shilling, Tanzanian shilling, and Ugandan shilling also affect dollar equivalents over time.

What is clear, however, is that East Africa’s leading female musicians are no longer dependent on music alone. They are building diversified empires — and the women on this list are proof of exactly that.