I first entered a studio to record with a band in 1982. This was after participating in the filming of a movie called ‘Wimbo wa Muanzi’, a film produced through a collaboration between the Tanzanian public company, Tanzania Film Company (TFC), and a Dutch company called One World Production. Along…
In Loving Memory of Dean Omari (1947 – 2025)
The music community mourns the loss of Dean Omari, who passed away peacefully this morning at the age of 77. Mr. Omari was a cherished figure in Tanzania’s vibrant music scene. His career blossomed in the 1960s as a member of the renowned Air Bantou Jazz, the resident band at Dar…
ENGLISH BLOG
Music During Mwalimu Nyerere’s Era
It has been 65 years since Tanganyika gained its Independence. The country has now gone through 6 phases of top government leadership. I have been fortunate to be a musician in all these phases. Today, allow me to tell you what it was like to be a musician in the…
KISWAHILI BLOG
SHUGHULI ZA MUZIKI ENZI ZA MWALIMU NYERERE
Ni miaka 65 toka Tanganyika ipate Uhuru. Nchi sasa imepitia awamu 6 za uongozi wa juu wa serikali. Nimebahatika kuwa mwanamuziki katika awamu zote, leo ngoja niwasimulie ilikuwaje kuwa mwanamuziki enzi ya awamu ya kwanza, awamu ya Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.Mimi ni mzaliwa wa Iringa, nilipata bahati kuzaliwa katika nyumba…
KISWAHILI BLOG
TUKUMBUKE BENDI ZETU 3
Katika safari yetu ya kuzikumbuka bendi mbalimbali nchini, kuna kitu kinaonekana wazi kabisa, katika swala la muziki kwa ujumla tumerudi nyuma sana. Zamani kulikuwa na bendi binafsi, bendi za serikali , bendi za chama tawala na karibu kila mji ulikuwa na zaidi ya bendi moja. Watu walikuwa wachache sana kuliko…
ENGLISH BLOG
Let’s talk about our bands 3
In our journey to remember various bands across the country, one thing is very clear: in the matter of music generally, we have regressed significantly. In the past, there were private bands, government bands, and bands owned by political parties; almost every town had more than one band. There were…
ENGLISH BLOG
LET’S TALK ABOUT OUR BANDS 2
Today, we continue our journey of remembering various bands across the country; today, let’s go to the Mbeya region. Let’s start with a history of Mbeya District. Before 1927, this district was known as the Igali District. The town of Mbeya began to gain prominence after the discovery of gold…
KISWAHILI BLOG
TUKUMBUKE BENDI ZETU 2
Leo tunaendelea na safari ya kukumbuka bendi mbalimbali nchini, leo twende mkoa wa Mbeya. Tuanze na wilaya ya Mbeya, wilaya ambayo ni makao makuu ya mkoa siku hizi. Kabla ya mwaka 1927 wilaya hii ilikuwa ikijulikana kama wilaya ya Igali. Mji wa Mbeya ulianza kupata umaarufu kutokana na kugundulika kwa…
ENGLISH BLOG
IF THE ‘BUGGY’ WAS NEVER BANNED, WOULD THE HISTORY OF TANZANIAN MUSIC BE DIFFERENT?
Tanzanian music, like that of many other African countries, has traversed many peaks and valleys, a common experience for all art forms. There is absolutely no doubt that politicians in our country have also made significant contributions to bringing our music to where it is today. I am sure there…
KISWAHILI BLOG
BUGI LISINGEPIGWA MARUFUKU HISTORIA YA MUZIKI WA TANZANIA INGEKUWA TOFAUTI ?
Muziki wa Tanzania kama ilivyo katika nchi nyingine za Afrika umepitia katika milima na mabonde mengi sana, jambo ambalo ni kawaida kwa sanaa za aina zote. Hakuna shaka kabisa kuwa wanasiasa katika nchi yetu nao wamechangia sana katika kuufikisha muziki wetu hapa ulipo. Nina hakika kuna jambo la kujifunza kwa…