Xenia Manasseh Joins Ukweli & Ywaya Tajiri For “AJE?”
Grammy-nominated Nairobi singer and songwriter Xenia Manasseh joins fellow Kenyan artists Ukweli and Ywaya Tajiri on “AJE?,” an intimate new single out today via Cinq Music, a GoDigital Music company. One of the first releases from Cinq’s partnership with Nairobi-based artist development platform Soul HQ, the track brings together three artists at the forefront of East Africa’s evolving R&B landscape, marking an early example of the collaboration’s mission to connect African talent with global audiences.
Translating to “how?” in Swahili, “AJE?” explores the complicated pull of a relationship neither person can quite walk away from. The song centers on the questions, “How can I give you up?” and “How can I leave you?” as two people reckon with the hurt they have caused one another while still believing their connection is unlike anything else. Rather than offering an easy answer, “AJE?” lives in the tension of knowing exactly what a relationship has cost you and choosing, despite it all, to keep holding on.
“I love ‘AJE?’ because it’s different from what anybody has heard from me up until this point. I fully intended to lean into my Coastal and Swahili roots, and I was working with the perfect people to do that,” said Xenia Manasseh. “Ukweli is widely respected and known as a producer that seamlessly blends different genres together–and Ywaya is such an incredible songwriter so the session was just really organic and fun. I’m excited for people to hear “AJE?” and to release more music very soon.“
Sonically, the track blends warm, atmospheric production with an understated Afro-R&B groove, creating an intimate backdrop for the trio’s soulful vocals and emotionally direct songwriting. Fluid melodies and a hypnotic rhythm give “AJE?” an effortless, late-night quality, bringing together contemporary R&B sensibilities with East African-rooted sounds.
Xenia Manasseh’s distinctive voice and emotionally candid songwriting have established her as one of Nairobi’s standout voices in contemporary R&B. Rooted in Neo-Soul, Afro-R&B, Afropop and Jazz, her music is deeply personal while drawing on experiences that feel universal, often exploring love, identity, vulnerability and the complexities of human connection. A Berklee College of Music graduate, Manasseh has earned Grammy recognition for her work with Teyana Taylor and collaborated with artists including Brandy, Burna Boy and Sauti Sol. Her solo work includes the acclaimed LOVE/HATE and MAYBE EPs, while appearances on COLORS x STUDIOS and NPR’s Tiny Desk, along with performances at New York’s Blue Note and across Europe, have further cemented her reputation as a compelling live and recording artist. With “AJE?” marking another chapter in her evolving sound, Manasseh has more music on the way, with new releases to come.