Collins Njuguna, popularly known as Collo Blue, has had quite the 2026. He rose to fame through dance before venturing into music. He has had many viral songs this year and doesn't seem to be slowing down. He speaks to Jackson Ngari about his career, brand partnerships, music and the business of entertainment.
When you last spoke to Nation Lifestyle , "Up Burukanga" was taking off. What has changed for you since then?
So basically, it has been a growing process, consistency-wise and content-wise, so to say. The plan has also been the same, just releasing more music that resonates with people and the bigger population—from children to adults—giving them a vibe and making people have fun with it. It’s been project after project.
Collins Njuguna, alias Collo Blue, is the creator of the viral dance challenge and the song “Up Burukanga”.
Photo credit: Pool
Did the success of “Up Burukanga” actually change your income and career opportunities?
I’m still doing dance and influencing gigs, which I was doing before. Maybe just exposure to a different level of marketing and a different capacity. As a musician now, I perform beyond the dance that we used to perform. I’m singing at concerts and different gigs. But I had been doing that before for a number of years.
You have released several songs since then. When did you decide music was something you wanted to pursue seriously?
Music has been something I’ve wanted to pursue seriously since I was in high school. That’s about 12 years. Music has been a scope that I wanted to look at. It’s just that the timing hadn’t made sense, and I was building structures to accommodate the system that music demands.
Do you make more money from music now, or is dance still your bigger earner?
I make money in this area, in the entertainment industry. So, yeah, multiple ways. I wouldn’t necessarily say dance makes more money or music makes more money because I run a company that accommodates all that and much more.
Collins Njuguna, alias Collo Blue, is the creator of the viral dance challenge and the song “Up Burukanga” (Flying), the infectious, hands-in-the-air anthem.
Photo credit: Pool
Your latest project with Fanta is a partnership. How did that come about?
The good people reached out to me after our projects that we had successfully brought to life. They gave me a brief on music. So it was technically just me doing what I’ve been doing, now affiliated with a brand that I was going to work with. Just like my previous music, it was me creating music for a dance, but in this case it was for a client.
How important are brand partnerships to a creator like you, financially and professionally?
They give you partnerships and positioning. Then there are more opportunities in beats, performances and influencing for these kinds of campaigns. There is also the general impact that these campaigns have had on the population. The people who follow have gotten a chance to participate in challenges that enable them to make money and win hampers, which is a really big thing.
Does a campaign like this change how you think about making music?
Like I said, this is exactly how we have been doing music. I think it doesn’t change my perspective, it just affirms it because all our previous projects have been pushed in the same way. So, of course, that’s why it has similar results to previous music that we have done before.
You have faced criticism over your music and dancing. Has it ever made you question the direction you are taking?
You recently released “Top Shotta”. What are you trying to show people about Collo Blue with your newer music?
“Top Shotta” came before “Ukining’inia”, with dance-concepted music. It is just accommodating and incorporating dance more and more to show how much impact dance has on the general entertainment scene.
Mc Leen (left) engages with Collo Blue during the Sky Festival event at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on March 1, 2025.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation
Looking back, what has been the biggest financial lesson you have learnt from your career?
That there is enough space to make money for everyone and just invest in people who believe in themselves.
If the viral challenges stopped tomorrow, what would keep your career going?
