A Swahili gospel song has done what few imagined possible – it’s reached the top of the country music charts in Norway.
Samson Maombi, a gospel singer from Kenya, has struck a rare chord with international audiences. His song Nitauimbia Wimbo – which means “I Will Sing a Song” – is now the most streamed country track in Norway this week.
The rise of the song, slow at first, began online. Short clips of Maombi’s acoustic performance, posted by fans on TikTok and Instagram, started spreading in Scandinavian circles. Before long, radio DJs picked it up, Spotify featured it on regional playlists, and Maombi was trending in a country he had never visited.
“I didn’t see this coming,” Maombi said in an interview from Nairobi. “I just sang what was in my heart. That it’s touched people that far away — it’s only God.”
A Gospel Song in a Country Category?
At first glance, it seems like a mismatch. The song, sung in Swahili, is gospel — not the country genre’s usual style. But its stripped-back instrumentation — just voice, guitar, and piano — and heartfelt lyrics appealed to listeners drawn to sincerity over sound.
“I don’t understand the words,” said Henrik Madsen, a 32-year-old from Bergen, Norway, “but you can feel the message. It reminds me of the old country gospel songs we heard in church growing up.”
Norwegian music journalist Liv Andersson, writing in Aftenposten, said the track felt “pure and spiritual,” and likened it to early American folk hymns. “There’s a kind of calm in it that people are craving these days,” she wrote.
A Win for African Gospel
Maombi is no stranger to Kenyan audiences. His music often plays on local Christian radio, and he performs regularly in churches across the country. But this is his first international breakthrough.
“It’s exciting,” said Wambui Ndirangu, a Nairobi-based music producer. “Kenyan gospel doesn’t often get global attention. This shows that if the song is honest and well made, it can go far.”
She added that many African artists are exploring new ways to reach global listeners — but few expect to top charts in Norway. “This one’s unique.”
A Moment to Reflect
While online fame can be brief, Maombi isn’t rushing to capitalise on his moment. He says he’s focused on staying true to his mission.
“I didn’t sing to trend,” he said. “I sing because it’s a calling. But if people in Norway or anywhere else are touched by the message, I’m grateful.”
Asked whether he plans to travel to Norway, Maombi paused and smiled. “If God opens that door, I’ll go. Maybe I’ll sing it live — in Swahili, of course.”
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