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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.
Bakitenno – #3
Entering the podium at #3 is the undisputed Rookie of the Year turned MVP, Bakitenno. If 2024 was the year he knocked on the door, 2025 was the year he kicked it down, occupied the building, and collected the rent.
Bakitenno entered 2025 with the momentum of a freight train. While his single “Problem” (featuring Samza) began making waves in late 2024, it was the release of the official visual in January 2025 that turned it into a national crisis—in the best way possible. The song became the “Best Song of the Year” at the National Social Awards, a global anthem on Audiomack, and the definitive street banger of the year.
But Bakitenno refused to be a one-hit wonder. He opened the year with “Online” and kept his foot on the gas, traveling to Ghana in February to drop the “Freetown to Accra” freestyle, followed by the warning shot “Shot.” However, his second major moment of dominance came in September 2025 with the release of “Bismillah.” The spiritual yet street-certified track, accompanied by a classic visual gaining over 200,000 views, proved his versatility.
His trophy cabinet exploded this year. Beyond the National Social Awards, he secured the prestigious “Best New Act” at the Sierra Leone Music Awards (SLMA) 2025. He also cleaned up at home, winning “Best Male Artist” and “Best Song” at the Makeni All Fields of Life Awards in December.
Bakitenno was also a road warrior. In October 2025, he went international, joining King Boss LA and MC Caro in The Gambia for the EHYOR Festival, where he delivered a performance that shut down the venue. Back home, he shared stages with Nigerian stars Magixx (at Gbamgbaode) and Fido (at Sugar Land), headlined his own massive show in Waterloo, and performed for the state at the Peace & Unity Concert.
With high-profile features on tracks like “TiDe” (with Krio Mesaya) and “Butu” (with Bashbeatz), Bakitenno proved he is the hardest working man in the new school.
For dominating the charts, sweeping the awards, and successfully exporting his sound to West Africa, Bakitenno takes the bronze medal as the 3rd Hottest Artiste in Sierra Leone 2025.
