East Africa's Top 25 Pop Songs of 2014 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTION

If one were to ask me, as I have already asked myself, to name East Africa's best/top 25 (or 10 or 5) pop songs released or published in 2014, here below would be, and is, my selection. My selections have a decidedly audio-visual focus, and so only rate music videos.

Of course, the naming of more than one 'like' inevitably prompts the question as to which 'like' comes first, and which next or last. In selecting and ranking my top African or East African  'likes' -- I limit myself to Sub-Saharan Africa -- I have been broadly guided by the following six criteria (each on a scale of 1 - 5, with 5 being the highest score):
1. The creative appeal and musicality of the voice asset.
2. The choice and mastery of the musical instruments in play.
3. The poetic form and content of the lyrics.
4. The artistic and aesthetic depth of the video component.
5. The synchronic quality of the audio-visual product, in terms of: harmony, tone, melody, rhythm, beat and color display.
6. Based on the foregoing, how the entire single, from beginning to end, impresses me -- or makes me feel about my encounter with it. This criterion also serves as a qualitative tie-breaker; that is, a virtual 'casting vote' whenever any other criteria yield a quantitative tie.

RANKING THE TOP 25 SELECTION:
[To watch the video, you may have to Right Click a Song's title and choose the "Open link in a new window" option]

25. Woman in Love by Vivian (2014):

24. Nikimuona by Avril (2014):

23. Only You  by Nene ft. Jay A (2014):

22. Mbele by Nonini ft. Wyre (2014):

21. Baramushaka by Knowless (2014):

20. Barua ya Dunia by Elani (2014):

19. Sugua Gaga by Shaa (2014):

18. Chuna Buzi by Shilole (2014):

17. Mfalme wa Mapenzi by Sanaipei [Sana] (2014):

16. Go Down Low by Palasso ft. Sheebah (2014):

15. Kanyaboya by Messen Selecta (2014):

14. Butterfly by Nameless (2014):

13. Bum Bum by Diamond Platnumz ft. Iyanya (2014):

12. Show by Victoria Kimani (2014):

11. Coco Baby by Waje ft. Diamond Platnumz (2014):

10. Koolio by Stella Mwangi (2014):

9. Nimempata by Pam Daffa ft. Mesen Selecta (2014):
    [The YouTube account of the 2014 version of the song was closed]

8. Chapa Nyingine by Chege ft. Gift (2014):

7. Kookoo by Elani (2014):

6. Njoo by Shaa ft. Redsan (2014):

5. Mdogo Mdogo by Diamond Platnumz (2014):

4. Mfalme by MwanaFA ft. G. Nako Warawa (2014):
Epic ~ MY

3. Prokoto by Victoria Kimani ft. Ommy Dimploz x Diamond Platnumz (2014):

2. Sura Yako by Sauti Sol (2014):

1. Ole Themba by Linah (2014):