Best Tanzanian Oldies Of All Times

Whenever anyone feels happy, sad, angry and lonely, we always turn to music to express ourselves. The feeling we get from music makes the world be a better and cheerful

Whenever anyone feels happy, sad, angry and lonely, we always turn to music to express ourselves. The feeling we get from music makes the world be a better and cheerful place that it makes everything else fade away. To think that we only used to listen to music only from radios, it doesn’t seem like it in today’s world. If we look back to the early 2000’s, many Tanzanian musician gave us many hits that kept us entertained even though they didn’t have the best equipments to record and produce music. All those things didn’t matter then since all you had to have was your voice and a nice band to back you up. With that, here are some of the best oldies that still make you wanna dance. 


10. Zeze by TID

This song was the jam back in 2015. Whenever you went out you were sure to hear this song playing somewhere whether it’s a bar or a kiosk. TID is a Bongo Flava musician who does R&B and made his solo debut at the age of 21. Although Zeze was not his first single, it sure made him more famous. For those who don’t know what zeze means, it’s an African music instrument that looks like a banjo but its not. It has no official English name that I know of but if it does well my bad. Anyway, this song which is all about romance was the hit back then that it was included in the Global soul. 


9. Cinderella by Ali Kiba

You may think the song is about a fairytale story like Cinderella’s. It isn’t but whatever the case no one cared and I don’t think many even knew. It’s the flow of the music that got to me and many others that we could not stop our selves from singing along whenever it came on the television and radio. This song gave Ali Kiba the recognition that he needed and well he is now a very successful musician in Tanzania and he gave us more and more music that he got nicknamed King Kiba. Well how about that. 


8. Zali la mentali by Professor Jay.

Although he is very engaged with politics nowadays, Prof. Jay gave us a gem known as Zali la mentali. This hip-hop song was very and I mean very well written and produced that it isn’t forgotten to this day. If you haven’t listened to it yet, well you should and watch the video too because its more entertaining that way. The message portrayed in this song is that it doesn’t matter what financial status you have to fall in love. Juma nature was featured in this song and made it more hardcore. 


7. Starehe by Ferooz

Ferooz featured Professor Jay in this song and it was a hit. This R&B and hip-hop song smashed the records. It has a great tune that got stuck in your head for hours. But what really made this song become famous was the message in it. This guy managed to educate a lot of people about how its easy to get AIDS when you just have fun without protection. With one song he portrayed a lot of what it’s like to not care for oneself while AIDS is still at large. This was when this virus was a bigger problem to the nation. At least he was able to educate and gives us a banger at the same time.


6. Hakuna Kulala by Juma Nature.

Sir Nature as many call him, gave us a lot of bangers back in 2000’s and he still brings heat in his songs till today. One of the many songs that got a lot of good responses is Hakuna Kulala. It means no sleeping. The song is about having fun dancing and clubbing that sleeping is not allowed even though you are hungry. He literally said so in this song. It became a big hit in clubs, parties and any place that dancing is needed. This song brought people together of all ages. Am sure many local clubs and bars still play this song to give the people a little bit of the best of bongo flava there is. 


5. Siku hazigandi by Lady Jay Dee.

With everything that happens in our world, everyone tends to need something to hold on and give them the push they need. This song was it to so many people back in 2007.  

This is one of the greatest songs produced in Tanzania. It has everything needed in a work of art that many artists don’t work on. Lady Jay Dee wrote this song for a particular audience that is women mostly but the message portrayed can be for anyone. The song title translates to days don’t stay stagnant and with those words alone, you get the reason this song became a hit.


4. Mama yangu by Banana Zoro.

Even though we didn’t get a lot of songs from him, Mr. Zoro did give us one of the best songs in the history of bongo flava. The song mama yangu means my mother, of course. He talked about his mother how she is the light and shield in his life. He showed the importance of mothers to all of us and that we should truly appreciate them and show them love and respect they need. The lyrics of this song added with the beat, made this one of the best songs between 2007 and 2010. 


3. Uko wapi by Ray C.

Another bongo flava that was a major hit during the 2000’s. Ray C was one of the queens of bongo flava in Tanzania. She gave us great songs that were played a lot on the radio and the television. This song was about finding her love all over the world. The video was even taken in a western country. Apart from singing, she was also known for belly dancing. It increased her fame and in that case her songs also got a lot of attention. 


2. Usijaribu by Ay.

Well, when it comes to Hip-hop in Tanzania, this mastermind is said to be the first musicians to commercialize it and be successful at that. With this song, AY was able to win two awards in 2007 from different award shows. This song captured a lot of attention since it was very hard to miss and it entertained all genders and ages despite being hardcore. I say this because when I was growing up, I was surrounded with women who didn’t prefer hip hop but since AY also sings bongo flava, his hardcore songs were also appreciated by all. Anyway, this song was among the many hits back then.


1. Ingekuwa vipi by Mwana FA.

This is the song that introduced Mwana FA as a solo artist and made him among the best bongo flava and hip-hop artists in Tanzania. He sang this song asking what if different things happened in a different way like if Dully Sykes (another Tanzanian musician) sang hardcore or would RnB be if not for Lady jay dee. I mean the whole song makes one think of different scenarios that could happen if it happened differently. Although some of the things said where obviously jokes but it still became a hit. With that said, if you do want to listen to old songs this should be in the list.


The songs today may have more flair and pizzazz but they can never take the greatness given by these oldies which by the way will still keep rocking as long as there are people who still keep listening to them.

The Culprit Behind Adults Pain

I am 73 and never in my life did I have the audacity to be myself. Sometimes in the middle of night I feel like I am suffocating and think that this is all for me…I have wasted my life essentially lived as per what society suggested. I have no one to blame and I feel sad’ lamented Alice when asked what regret does she feel after becoming older! 
‘If you don’t touch it, it won’t harm you’ 

may not be a very well-known saying but it certainly is a lifestyle that many of us are living with and might be the very reason to why we do not talk about death…Wait!! Don’t skip this page let us all face this reality for once because obviously death is simply passing away where every part of the body becomes deceased but there is another type of death where the body is active but the heart and minds become dead, I would call it loneliness. 

Believe it or not; loneliness is one of the most unspoken issues among the African communities especially in Africa and across the Globe because many people refer to it as an indication of strength while considering it a régime to mask their troubles. Unfortunately there is a significant figures of the victims who are secretly suffering from unimaginable number of pains and are willing to spend millions of pennies on several culprits to protect their suffering. Today, this magazine will discourse about this common culprit for adults’ pain which has left incurable effects to the societies.

What is the pain?

Unquestionably; in a world full of vast devices to keep the minds busy from worrying about our prescribed lifespan; both youngsters, adults, wives, strangers, patients, doctors and every normal human being all share a common fear of loneliness. Loneliness is the state of feeling emptiness inside someone’s mind, soul, body or heart, (regardless how much a person may be owning); where as the results, it leads to an individual’s unwise decisions which may also yields to unhealthy preoccupations such as an obsession of the body image.

The 90% of those whose focus has been invested on image obsession has either performed plastic surgeries or at least considered anti-aging prescriptions because they thought the problem is more physical than mental. On many exclusive researches conducted to find out why themajority of adults spend quite mercilessly on anti-aging products, it was finally discovered that the main cause to the act is the fear of beingempty, lonely and eventually becoming invisible to their loved ones and society in general.  

At least every year the World spends about $ 274 billion on the anti-aging products while the media has tirelessly encouraged all ages on how important it is for them to look younger on a daily basis. Although on the outside the entire anti-aging campaign may look like it is about the beauty but it seems to be a completely different agenda on the inside because when a group of adults asked why are they scared to look or get older; the top answers were all pressed back to the fear of pain, poverty, becoming vulnerable and abused. Who will take care of me? What will happen when I get ill? The fear of getting treated with humiliations in the hands of those who may not even be related to them and the costs that may be used for instance in the West to take care of elders; altogether spice up this pain. The good news is there is still hope for a better change as far as people are willing to share and learn.

What is Tanzanians’ acuity on the matter?

On the other hand; the courage of whether or not to communicate and implement about this pain seems to differ and have taken a unalike approach at least for the participants of this survey whom I believe are representatives to the majority of the country because many of them felt uncomfortable to address this. Some of them seem to have believed that loneliness is a part of faith hence no one should rise a concern about it, while others are uncertain if this is a problem or not.

Apparently when both youths and adults of 21-75 years old interviewed, they admitted to have experienced on the feeling and urge that it is unavoidable circumstance unless one chooses to live a useful life.

 ‘I celebrated a lovely 25 years’ old birthday last week with family and friends and felt so happy but I assure you on the inside I was somehow worried on becoming older because I can relate how different this birthday celebration is from a 19 years old one. The people’s engagement, the mindset, the dependence…all these were seem to be freely accessible but the more I aged; the desperate I become’’. Said Sylvia a fourth year Medical Student at Muhimbili, adding that her hard work has been a motive to worry less.

There has been an incredible rise of beauty shops in Dar es Salaam region alone which is the business city where 7 of 10 people you meet have somehow tried to mask their loneliness through the beauty concept.

By Khadija Amri

When Sibling Becomes Strangers

After two months of going missing not only from her family but friends and co-workers; her concerned close friend decided to anonymously inform The Tanzanienne 

After two months of going missing not only from her family but friends and co-workers; her concerned close friend decided to anonymously inform The Tanzanienne over Suzanne’s quietness. She briefly explained how hardworking and committed is her friend but something has always seemed to be off. 

‘You can read all the sadness written on her face; from the body language to the negative energy surrounds her for whoever comes near her presence, but never for a minute has she opened her mouth to express what is it that bothers her! She has so far been to more than six jobs but has under no circumstances stayed up to 3 months on a single job…not that she got fired; surprisingly all the companies still want her to date but she chose to voluntarily quit. I would try to understand if she could have gone to being self-employed but none of that has ever happened. She definitely needs help’. Sadly explained Halima. 
Suzanne; (25) is the second out of three children in Mr. Mmari’s family who is not only educated and gifted daughter but beautiful with humbleness yet unhappy soul due to her mother’s endless and unintended curses she receives on a daily basis.

Our magazine could no longer remained calm upon Halima’s alarming concern on Suzanne, so we immediately called her through a mobile phone. After few failed call attempts of trying to reach her, we decided to make a special visit to her home at Kunduchi where she is currently residing with her aunty without the parents’ knowledge… be minded she has been living with her parents for the past twenty five years except for the last two months. Thus it was expected for them to know where the daughter is currently because this is Africa where it is normal for a grown up child regardless her old age to live with parents before marriage.

The following was a brief but effective conversation a Tanzanienne writer has had with Suzanne which happened after consulting her last employer who had well wholeheartedly cooperated and informed Suzanne on our arrival:

 

Tanzanienne: Thank you for having me, how are you doing!

Suzanne: (With a wounded tone voice) it is my pleasure, I am okay

Tanzanienne: It is Thursday and you are not at work, why?

Suzanne: mmh…I have not been well

Tanzanienne: What is wrong?

Suzanne: Many things

Tanzanienne: Please talk to me

Suzanne: (sighed) I don’t know where to flinch, but I will just tell you whatever approaches my mind. I am an isolated little girl living in a 25 years old lonely lady’s weak body. I have been referred to all evil names and characters you may have ever heard in your life; to the family members and strangers. I could wear up to the maximum of six ugliness in a day from being called crazy to stupid, mediocre, incompetent, failure and all other terms you know that can kill your self-esteem in a second. My well-being has been put in a stake throughout my life. I earn no respect from nobody and it hurts even more when I experience it from my own younger sister because you know how important the respect is in our country especially if there is an age gap. I sometimes don’t want to blame her because she learns it all from my mother. My mother is literally allowing her to disrespect me whenever she gossips about me with her. All along I have been a scape goat to the entire family and other relatives thinking I could get their acceptance and approval but I am regretting my precious wasted time.

I was made to believe that my mindset has been possessed by devils so I was taken to consult different witchdoctors and fortune-tellers but not hospital. All this was my once beloved mother’s doing to make me believe that she cared for but the reality is she was slowly but surely destroying me. Suzanne explained

Tanzanienne: This is deep Suzanne, but one thing I am sure of is you will get through this and being able to stand on your feet again. You need to identify your weak points and take them as strength to seek help for your mental health. Find a trustable close family member to share all your troubles with, then request for a family meeting because it is possible your mother is unaware of how you feel. You shall be healed in due time.

It always all starts with the parent’s tendency of comparing their kids. Comparison is a thief of all happiness especially for human beings unless it is done to machines or the things which cannot perform without a man’s command and intelligence. However; it appears to be a useful tool for many parents whenever they want to correct or motivate their children…or maybe they are missing out what it real means by motivation. 

It is human nature to make comparison but it is an equal importance to reconsider that doing so among siblings always leaves negative impacts because these are two separate individuals who may have shared the DNA but are absolutely different personalities and should be celebrated accordingly.

by Khadija Amri

Three Lessons Corona Has Left Us With

The world might have heard of the saying goes by Cancer had picked a wrong diva but not Corona has picked a wrong country as many Tanzanians claim; why! Because regardless the geographical location or population the country is, it has somehow either experienced this unforgettable pandemic disease or its effects

The world might have heard of the saying goes by Cancer had picked a wrong diva but not Corona has picked a wrong country as many Tanzanians claim; why! Because regardless the geographical location or population the country is, it has somehow either experienced this unforgettable pandemic disease or its effects. Many families have lost their loved ones, Nations have lost the heroes and great leaders, mean while uncountable number of marriages have unexpectedly failed because it was about time the couples had to face each other’s hidden true colors throughout the Quarantine period. Interestingly.

Remarkably in Tanzania; the number of pregnancies in schools went tremendously higher than usual especially in Southern Tanzania and brought exceptional cases ever to happen in a country. This was one of those hectic moments in a lifetime when few parents had to witness the daughters became pregnant from their blood brothers just because of spending months together in the houses. What a horrible trauma for both parents and children!

Generally; the entire world had felt this global mental crisis of which no media outlet could be at rest except updating and enthusiastically reporting thousands of incidents while educating citizens on the precautions. This magazine however, respects all the incredible coverage done throughout but will not unnecessary repeat their works rather we will focus on the lessons learnt from corona.

 Learn to save money

In other words; it is about the time people learn to have plans A and B in their lives in case things fall apart unforeseen. A bitter truth about many people in Africa including Tanzania is; we do not have a habit of saving…whichever it is; money, food or even time. The money management has been a long time nightmare for us that’s why people would risk their lives regardless of how bad the circumstance may show up, just to get a family food for tomorrow. Sadly eight out of ten people could still go to their daily activities during Quarantine; worried more about their families dying of hunger other than the dangerous Covid-19 itself. Recalling form the situation, many Tanzanians could not afford a kilogram of sugar due to its highest price ever to happen in the country. Governments, Organizations and each individual is responsible and must consider ‘saving habit’ on a daily basis.

Appreciating the doctors everyday

There is no the paramount moment in 21st century where the world has appreciated the doctors more as the moment of Covid-19 although our appreciation should not wait for the pandemic to pop-up, because at some point everyone gets sick. The doctors have always been sacrificing their all just to make sure they save lives. The unknown figure of doctors have lost their lives to Corona in the process of saving others’ which surprisingly did not stop the rest of them to continue support their patients. In the developing countries like Tanzania where there has been shortage of equipment’s such as OPP, the doctors had a chance to quit and choose to protect themselves at home, oppositely they did what was possible in their hands to attend on their duties despite the dangerous environment. The yearly health budgets must make doctors’ safety a number one priority in all matters regarding health because it cannot be improved without their consent.

 

Working from home

It is about time for families to start investing more on the quality time at home.  A Zimbabwean man known as Mr. Arnold who is now residing in Tanzania told this magazine the reasons why such cases like marriage failure and students’ pregnancies happened; it is because there is no groundwork set for both parents and children to make a useful time while at home.

‘Where I come from we believe that if a man is at home before 8:00pm he is useless. We would rather make it to bars or do anything to kill time just to avoid being at home before the chosen time. Now imagine the Quarantine commands us to spend unlimited hours with the wives who are by nature are so talkative and men don’t like that and yet they have nothing to keep them busy…only divorce should be a savage to such families.  This goes to children as well, we parents must start teaching our kids to be busy at home but this doesn’t mean we should ignore spending the quality time with family together’ He said.
On a nutshell; despite of all that took place the Tanzanians have remained calm and maintain their positive attitudes towards life in general. With on-going the 2020 election campaign at the moment, majority of citizens have experienced the businesses failures because of the almost no money circulations but are still working hard and keep their hopes higher for a better tomorrow.

by Khadija Amri

Makocha Wageni Wajaa Tanzania

Una Majina mengi sana huu Mchezo.Wengine tunauita Soka,Kandanda,Kabumbu nk.Lakini wewe tambua ni Mchezo wa Mpira wa Miguu,Mchezo ambao una matumizi makubwa ya Fedha.

Una Majina mengi sana huu Mchezo.Wengine tunauita Soka,Kandanda,Kabumbu nk.Lakini wewe tambua ni Mchezo wa Mpira wa Miguu,Mchezo ambao una matumizi makubwa ya Fedha.

Katika kuhakikisha Mchezo huu unasonga mbele zaidi,ni lazima kwa upande wa Kifedha Timu iwe imejipanga ipasavyo kisawasawa.Pesa itatumika kila Eneo.Kusajili Wachezaji,Kuajiri Makocha,Kuajiri Madaktari wa Timu,Kuajiri Ma Afisa Habari wa Timu nk.

Kama ilivyo sehemu nyingine Duniani,Nchini Tanzania nako hatuko nyuma katika Kulisakata Soka.Septemba 25 mwaka 2021,Ufunguzi wa Ligi Kuu ulifanyika kwa Mchezo wa Ngao ya Jamii uliopigwa katika Dimba la Benjamin Mkapa(Uwanja wa Taifa).Mchezo uliowakutanisha Timu kubwa zenye Mashabiki Wengi zaidi Timu za Yanga na Simba.Ambapo Yanga ilishinda kwa ushindi wa 1-0.Ikiashiria rasmi kufunguliwa kwa Msimu mpya wa Ligi 2021/2022.

Ligi hii kuu ya Soka Tanzania Bara,ni moja ya Ligi kubwa sana kwa sasa Barani Afrika.Msimu wa mwaka 2020/2021 ilichukua nafasi ya Nane (8) miongoni mwa Ligi Bora Afrika na Nafasi ya Sabini na Moja(71) Duniani kwa ubora.Imekuwa Ligi pendwa sana kwa sasa kwa Ukanda wa Nchi za Afrika Mashariki na Kati.

Na imeonyesha kuwavutia Wachezaji wengi wa Kigeni kuja kucheza Soka Tanzania. Makocha wengi kwa sasa hawavungi kuja Tanzania kufundisha,pindi wanapofuatwa au hata wao wenyewe huomba Nafasi za kuja kufufundisha Kabumbu Tanzania.Msimu huu wa 2021/2022 umekuwa Msimu wa Makocha wengi kuchangamkia ‘FURSA’Tanzania kwani Makocha wa Kigeni wamekuwa wengi mno.


Ligi hii Kuu Tanzania Bara,Msimu huu ina jumla ya Timu kumi na Sita(16), Timu Kumi(10) zina Makocha Wakigeni na Timu Sita pekee zina Makocha Wazawa(Watanzania).

Hii hapa Orodha ya hao Makocha Wa Kigeni na makocha Wazawa.

MAKOCHA WA KIGENI

1. Simba-Didier Gomez De Rosa(France)

2. Yanga-Nasreddin Mohammed Nabi(Tunisia/Ubeligiji)

3. Biashara-Patrick Odhiambo(Kenya)

4. Azam-George Lwandamina(Zambia)

5. Mbeya Kwanza-Haruna Harelimana(Burundi)

6. Kagera Sugar-Francis Baraza(Kenya)

7. Mtibwa Sugar-Joseph Omog(Cameroon)

8. Geita Gold-Ettiene Ndayiragije(Burundi)

9. Coastal Union-Melis Medo(USA)

10. Mbeya City-Mathias Rule(Uganda)

MAKOCHA WAZAWA

1. Polisi Tanzania-Malale Hamsini Keya(Tanzania)

2. Tanzania Prisons-Salum Mayanga(Tanzania)

3. Namungo-Hemed Suleiman ‘Morocco'(Tanzania)

4. KMC-John Simkoko(Tanzania)

5. Dodoma FC-Mbwana Makata(Tanzania)

6. Ruvu Shooting-Charles Boniface Mkwasa(Tanzania)

Hii ya kuwa na Idadi kubwa ya Makocha wageni katika ligi ya Tanzania Bara kuzidi idadi ya Makocha Wazawa,siyo jambo baya.Kwa upande wa pili yawapasa Makocha Wazawa nao kutoka Nje ya Mipaka ya Tanzania kwenda kusaka Malisho zaidi.Inasemwa Makocha wetu wazawa ni Waoga sana wa Kutoka.Huu ni Muda wao wa kuonyesha uwezo wao.Watanzania hatupaswi kuchukia hali hii bali Makocha wetu Wazawa waibebe kama Changamoto waifanyie kazi.

By Kione Hamis Mahuruku

Healthy Outlook On Contemporary Arts

There is no standard way of referring to art. It ranges from modern paintings, to photography, sculptures and dates decades back to oil and silk screenings, and popularly; wax paintings. The manner in which people express themselves has not been celebrated enough in Africa. A plethora of creators spent time in more Western and European settings, therefore, some lose their roots, or are unable to achieve pieces that celebrate the Africa that flows in their blood as constant and as loudly as the Nile flows through the North into the Mediterranean. We have succumb to viewing the pieces created by those among us as inadequate or as needing a western feel, instead of emphasizing and putting a stamp on the fact that this is who we are and that this is our culture.

Innovative visionaries in our continent live and breathe creating content. Each day, we look past artists on accessible platforms, but wait for them to be acknowledged by international press before we put them on a pedestal. Captured brilliance deserves to be laminated and published with pride because our culture and creations should not have to be approved by anyone but us. Thus, the title of this article; invoking a healthy outlook on contemporary art. With 54 countries in our continent, there are waves of content for us to blissfully drown in, and not have to consume any other creations.

The multiple tribes and cultures in our nation result in a plethora of social differences. These differences are what make us unique. We possess the ability to create strides of beauty more diverse than most can come up with. These diversifications are a result of beauty as far West as Ghana, up from the North, across central towards the East and Tanzania, and finally in the enclave that is Lesotho, in the South. Artists whose presence we must amplify are the likes of Trevor Stuurman, who started in South Africa and remained true to himself and his art, and finally made it on the international marketing, penetrating the global sphere. Trevor has worked with brands ranging from Conde Nast, the well acclaimed media company that has Vogue and CN Traveller under its belt. His creations and collaborations have been featured in most publications and he has gained a large following from this. Locally, he has worked with the brand Maxhosa, which is also racking up accolades as they go in Africa. Local collaborations among artists must be encouraged for each of our nurturing’s to grow.

@paulboypaul_

Courtesy of Paul Gugulethu

The talent in our mother land is more than abundant. May we continue create and may we soar higher while maintaining African art positivity!

Written By Dille Neenah Molapo