Kenya’s biggest musician Bien-Aimé Baraza has named Bruce Melodie the finest vocalist in East Africa, describing the Rwandan artist as possessing exceptional singing talent that no other artist in the region can match.

Bien-Aimé made the remarks while in Kigali for the Basketball Africa League, where he is scheduled to perform on May 22, 2026. Speaking to journalists, he was asked about his relationship with Rwandan artists and his assessment of the local music scene.

“All artists from Rwanda are my friends, it is easy to work with all of them, they are very good people,” he said. “When I work with an artist, the first thing I look at is whether we connect, so we can work based on his talent.”

He went further in singling out Bruce Melodie, saying he considers him among the most gifted singers on the continent. “I think Bruce Melodie is one of the singers with great talent in East Africa, and I can say without fear that there is no other artist who surpasses him in singing,” he said.

Beyond vocals, Bien-Aimé also reserved the highest praise for producer and artist Element Éléeh, whom he described as the standout music producer in the region. “It is not just something to say in Rwanda, i am talking about the whole region. Element Éléeh is a very young man, but with the knowledge and skills of an older person,” he said.

The Kenyan star confirmed he has already collaborated with Bruce Melodie and Element Éléeh, alongside Mani Martin and other Rwandan artists. He added that he has also been working on unreleased music with Kivumbi King and Mike Kayihura, describing them among his close friends in the Rwandan music industry.