Artists / Harikāntā Devī Dāsi
Harikāntā Devī Dāsi
Hare Krishna Kirtan
Harikanta Devi Dasi is a Hare Krishna kirtan singer from Nairobi, Kenya, who mixes Swahili verses with the maha-mantra and leads street kirtans and house programs.
- Instagram followers
- 32K
- YouTube subscribers
- 2K
- performance to watch
- 1
- Performs at
- wedding · street harinam · concerts · satsang
- Has performed in
- Nairobi · London
- Sings in
- English · Swahili · Sanskrit
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The story
Harikāntā Devī Dāsi, who goes by Harikanta, is a Hare Krishna kirtan singer from Nairobi, Kenya, known for blending Swahili verses with the maha-mantra. Her channel describes her as a disciple of His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami. ISKCON News calls her a fourth-generation Indian Kenyan who was born and raised in Nairobi.
She says she came to kirtan from a wish to connect with her heritage, and that kirtan became her sanctuary. She left a corporate career for a monastery in London and spent a long time at Bhaktivedanta Manor in England as a nun, studying and teaching at The School of Bhakti. She took up music, poetry and books to share mantra meditation.
Her debut album, Jambo Kirtan, came out in 2022 and was re-released in December 2023 with a launch video. Its title song features Vermon Seidel, Banke Bihari and Joe Njugi, and has been watched about 34,000 times. On Spotify she has five releases, from Radha Madhava Lullaby in 2022 and Karibu Keshava in 2025 to Radhe Wimbo Za Wema in August 2026.
Her music mixes traditional melodies with contemporary rhythms,, and she sings in English and Swahili as well as Sanskrit. Her channel has about 1,960 subscribers, and she posted a new bhajan, Aan Baso Shyama, in April 2026.
Her channel also carries Kenyan-themed tracks, such as Karibu Kenya (welcome to Kenya) and Pamoja (together), alongside bhajans to Radha, Hanuman and Shiva.
She also leads kirtan in person. Her channel describes street kirtans and house programs, and a 2023 video shows a harinam on the streets of Nairobi with a mridanga, a harmonium and passers-by, children included, stopping to join.
What a kirtan with Harikāntā is like
A kirtan with Harikanta is warm, informal and local. On the street in Nairobi she sits on a mat with a mridanga and a harmonium, sings, and lets passers-by, children among them, drift in and sing back. Indoors her style is a mix of traditional melodies with contemporary rhythms, and she sings in English and Swahili as well as Sanskrit, so guests who do not know the mantras can still follow. Her channel describes street kirtans and house programs, which makes her a natural fit for a home gathering where everyone is encouraged to join.
Best for
- Home kirtanHer channel describes street kirtans and house programs, and her style is easy for guests to join.
- Harinam or street kirtanShe leads public harinam in Nairobi that passers-by stop to join.
- Satsang with an English or Swahili mixHer songs mix English, Swahili and Sanskrit, so mixed or younger groups can follow.
What makes Harikāntā special
“She sings the maha-mantra with Swahili verses and contemporary rhythms, so her kirtan feels both traditional and new.”
Where Harikāntā has performed
- 2023Jambo Kirtan album launchNairobi, Kenya
Highlights
- Released the debut album Jambo Kirtan (2022, re-released 2023)
- Five releases on Spotify, the newest in August 2026
- Featured in ISKCON News in March 2024
Work & output
Booking Harikāntā: common questions
- Who is Harikanta Devi Dasi?
- Harikanta Devi Dasi is a Hare Krishna kirtan singer, writer and speaker from Nairobi, Kenya. Her channel says she is a disciple of Kadamba Kanana Swami and spent time as a nun at Bhaktivedanta Manor.
- What kind of kirtan does Harikanta lead?
- Hare Krishna kirtan and bhajans that mix traditional melodies with contemporary rhythms. Her songs blend Swahili verses with Krishna conscious chants, and she also leads street harinam and house programs.
- What is Jambo Kirtan?
- Jambo Kirtan is her debut album, which mixes Swahili verses with the maha-mantra. The title song features Vermon Seidel, Banke Bihari and Joe Njugi and has been watched about 34,000 times on YouTube.
- Where can I listen to Harikanta Devi Dasi?
- Her bhajans are on her YouTube channel, Harikanta, and on Spotify under Harikanta, where the newest release is Radhe Wimbo Za Wema from August 2026.
- Can I book Harikanta for a kirtan in India?
- Send us your date, city and occasion and we will ask her. She is based outside India and her channel mentions programs in Kenya, so we will tell you on WhatsApp what is possible.
- What occasions can I book Harikāntā for?
- Occasions Harikāntā performs at: wedding, street harinam, concerts and satsang. Tell us about yours and we’ll check it suits them.
- Does Harikāntā perform in my city?
- Harikāntā has performed in Nairobi and London. For other cities, send us yours and we’ll ask about travel.
- What languages does Harikāntā sing in?
- English, Swahili and Sanskrit.
- How long does a Hare Krishna Kirtan last?
- Temple sessions typically run 30–90 minutes. Festival kirtans can continue for several hours; special kirtan marathons may go through the night. We agree the exact length with Harikāntā when we confirm your booking.
- How much does it cost to book Harikāntā?
- It depends on the date, city, length and how many musicians come. Send us your occasion and we’ll tell you on WhatsApp, usually within a day.
