East Africa's Top 25 Happiest Songs of 2016 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTION

This list of East Africa's Top 25 Happiest Songs of 2016 is part of a larger production -- the third annual edition of  #TheYamboSelection (#TYS). As a component of this year's #TYS, the list given below is more specifically a sub-set of a larger list titled Africa's Top 40 Happiest Songs of 2016. The same criteria are used this year (January to December 2016) as were used last year to select and rank, out of the songs released or published during the year, those that project and/or elicit the highest quotient of happiness -- otherwise understood as a "feel good" frame of mind -- in the listener(s) or audience (s).

With all the talent that keeps popping up all across Africa, it has been no less daunting a task this year to put together this list. Having more to pick from does not necessarily mean a greater leeway in doing so, one finds, as there's even more, regrettably, to let go that should be in. But all lists of quality do have a 'genetic' limit of sorts, one hazards to add, in the sense of how long, how elongated, they can possibly be -- and still remain optimal and (common)sensible. So, as we look ahead, one senses that this list is fast approaching a certain limit one cannot breach.

As before, the focus in this series of lists is the song, not the singer, with the added requirement that only songs in video form qualify. In addition, the "happy" song must broadly fit the standard definition of popular (or pop) music; that is, music in any of these distinct genres, or any combination of them: Hip Hop, RnB, rap, reggae or rock. We are not dealing here with gospel, classical  or traditional music; although borderline cases or creative partial 'fusions' with them will always be considered.

 CLICK HERE to read the whole Introduction to the criteria used to make the lists in the #TYS series, including the one below.

HERE, THEN, THE LIST AND RANKING OF EAST AFRICA's TOP 25 HAPPIEST SONGS OF 2016:
[Click on a Song's title to watch the video]

25. Juu by Vanessa Mdee ft. Jux (2016):

24. Please Don't Go Away by Mayunga ft. Akon (2016):

23. Akkuse by Sheebah (2016):

22. Shenzi by Tahmane ft. King Kaka (2016):

21. Kamatia by Navy Kenzo (2016):

20. Give it to Me by Akothee ft. Mr. Flavour (2016):

19. Unconditionally Bae by Sauti Sol ft. Alikiba (2016):

18. Inde by Dully Sykes ft. Harmonize (2016):

17. Tunakubali by Timmy Tdat ft. The Kansoul (2016):

16. Gamululu by A Pass ft. Konshens (2016):

15. Arosto by G. Nako ft. Chin Bees x Nikki Wa II (2016): 

14. Dede by Bebe Kool (2016):

13. Watora Mari by Jah Prayzah ft. Diamond Platnumz (2016):

12. Colors of Africa by Mafikizolo ft. Diamond Platnumz x DJ Maphorisa (2015):

11. Sembela Eno by Eddy Kenzo (2016):

10. Love You by Elani (2016):

9. Naomba Uniroge by Vanessa Mdee (2016):

Click here for a review of the song

8. Muziki by Darassa ft. Ben Pol (2016):

7. Farmer Remix by Ykee Benda ft. Shebbah Karungi (2016):

6. Benefactor by Akothee (2016):

5. HiiNiYa by Nonini ft. Jegede (2016):

4. Feel Good by Navy Kenzo (2016):

3. Movie Star by Mi Casa ft. Eddy Kenzo (2016):

Click here to read a review of the song

2. Disco Disco by Eddy Kenzo (2016):

1. Salome by Diamond Platnumz ft. Rayvanny (2016):

Click here to read a review of the song

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READ: Africa's 40 Happiest Songs of The Year, 2015

READ: Africa's 25 Happiest Songs of The Year, 2014

READ: World Happiness Report 2015

ALSO READ: "The Happiness Contagion"