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The wait is finally over. After a strategic one-year hiatus, the most anticipated ranking in Sierra Leone’s entertainment industry has returned—bigger, sharper, and more comprehensive than ever before.
The year 2025 has been a defining era of resilience and global exportation for Salone music. From the outset of the year until now, we have witnessed our sound break new boundaries. From artists dominating international tours to the rise of viral sensations who captured the streets, the competition for the top spot has never been fiercer.
Sierraloaded is proud to present the 20 Hottest Artiste in Sierra Leone (2025 Edition). This list remains an undiluted assessment of the industry, meticulously documenting the last 12 months. We have looked beyond the noise to identify the true movers of the culture—evaluating musical impact, digital footprint across all major streaming platforms, offline reach, and brand value.
This isn’t just a ranking; it is a celebration of the voices that defined the year. As we countdown from December 10 to the grand reveal of the #1 Artiste on December 30, we invite you to join the debate using #SaloneHottest.
The stage is set. The music has been heard. Here are the exceptional individuals who ruled the year.
Samza – #5
Climbing from #8 in 2023 to #5 in 2025, Frank Samza Serry, better known as Samza has proven that distance is no barrier to dominance. From his base in Perth, Australia, he has remained the puppet master of the Sierra Leonean hip-hop scene, pulling strings that turn underground talents into mainstream stars.
2025 was the year the architect of the AfroRudnez sound fully transitioned from “artist” to “institution.” He started the year by turning Bakitenno into a household name. While the audio for their collaboration “Problem” dropped in late 2024, it was the release of the visual in January 2025 that sparked a global wildfire. The track became a viral anthem, clocking over 1 million views on Audiomack, and proved that a Samza verse is the ultimate co-sign.
But Samza didn’t stop at one protégé. He spent the year cultivating a new crop of rappers under his AfroRudnez banner, introducing raw talents like Marthson Blu, Krio Mesaya, Opothila, and Somesie to the world.
His own artistic output was equally relentless. In November 2025, he delivered his magnum opus—his third solo studio album, “A Perfect Time.” A 15-track masterclass in storytelling and flow, the album has already surpassed 1 million streams. It serves as a bridge between the past and present, featuring his new recruits alongside heavyweights like Lucky Oyem, Joey, Wisher, Apreel, and, in a moment that warmed the hearts of Day 1 fans, his longtime brother-in-rhyme, Kracktwist.
Beyond his own projects, Samza was the industry’s most valuable feature artist in 2025. His verses on Kelvin SL’s “Vex,” Zua’s “Tell Am,” and Bashbeatz’s “Butu” turned good songs into trending topics, using his massive social media influence to push these tracks to the peak of promotion.
For redefining what it means to be a diaspora artist, for acting as the “Kingmaker” for the next generation, and for delivering a classic album in A Perfect Time, Samza secures the 5th spot on the 20 Hottest Artistes in Sierra Leone 2025.
