With millions of streams, a debut album on the way, and a self-defined sound he calls Afro-Gako, Element Eleéeh is preparing for his most important chapter yet.
Long celebrated as one of East Africa’s most prolific producers, the Rwandese hitmaker is now fully stepping into his role as an artist and 2026 is set to be the year that transition becomes undeniable.
While in an interview with OkayAfrica, the “Sikosa” hitmaker spoke to a number of shifts shaping his next phase: the move from behind-the-scenes architect to a front-facing performer, the pressure of global ambition, and the responsibility of building timeless music. It’s a pivotal time for an artist who has quietly soundtracked Rwanda’s rise on the continental stage.
For years, Eleéeh’s name has been synonymous with excellence in production. He has crafted records for some of Rwanda’s biggest stars, including The Ben and Bruce Melodie, and his signature sonic subtle and unmistakable “Eleéeh” tag has become a familiar stamp across East African hits. Demand for his work was so high that when he released his debut single as an artist, “Kashe,” in 2022, it instantly became a nationwide success, marking the start of his solo journey.
In 2024, he continued the momentum up with MiLELE, another successful release that also marked the official introduction of Afro-Gako, a genre Eleéeh had been quietly developing. Afro-Gako blends his traditional Rwandese gakondo and borrows from global genres Afrobeats, amapiano, zouk and kompa to create a sound built to not only be home rooted but also travel and influence.
Even then, Eleéeh was clear that his ambitions extended beyond production credits. Still in the same interview, he described the invisible ceiling many producers face. “There’s a wall you hit,” he explained. “You work hard, people know your music, but if you don’t think bigger, if you don’t move beyond the local scene, you get stuck.”
For him, breaking through that wall meant Eleéeh betting on himself. He likens the music industry to a restaurant where artists are the waiters, visible and celebrated, while producers are the chefs working behind closed doors. The food (music) may be exceptional, but recognition often comes late if at all it ever shows up. “It can take 20 or 30 songs to become the biggest producer in East Africa,” he noted. “But it can take just a few songs as an artist to reach a completely different level.”
That realization shaped his focus heading into 2026 and so this got him starting him to work on his debut 10-track album that he said is currently in its final stages, will feature collaborations on roughly half of the songs and is being positioned as a defining statement rather than a quick hit chase. So far, “Tombe” and “Maaso” are out and their reception by the public has already built a sorta propeller for Element to ride on. A few more additional singles are expected ahead of the album’s release.
The success of these tracks pointed to Eleéh’s growth not only as a confident, charming, benevolent a vocalist but also curator of sound. The lead singles on the body of work carry with it Caribbean textures and Rwandese rhythms and are in his Afro-Gako sound, because as a producer turned singer is a firm believer in creating music that will last longer and not just chasing trends. “Anyone can make a hit,” said the “Fou De Toi” singer. “But creating something timeless, that’s harder.”
Eleéeh’s philosophy is deeply informed by his past most formative influences; the late Gabonese legend Oliver Ngoma, whose music he grew up listening to being played at home. Because of the core memories he has with Oliver’s music, Element after personally securing permission from the singer’s family sampled Ngoma’s classic “Bane” on “Sikosa”.
Alongside his album rollout, plans for tours across Europe and North America are underway, while requests for his production expertise continue to flood in. The challenge, he admits, lies in managing both worlds. Touring, recording, rehearsing, and producing simultaneously can feel chaotic — but it’s a challenge he’s willing to embrace.
Element Eleéeh is fully stepping into his career with intentionality, and no he isn’t abandoning his producer side but rather expanding it. Asides production work, Element is now looking to touring Europe and North America, and recording more records as an artist, plus his primary strong suite production. From catching this chat of his, I could tell 2026 is set to be his busiest year yet. Just last week but one, he produced Gloria Busingye a;so professionally known as Gloria Bugie ‘s “Cherie”. The loud and unmissable evidence? His percussive signature guitar.