Artists

This is Tanzania's equivalent of Congo's TPOK Jazz or Zaiko Langa Langa. As OTTU Jazz, and in various other guises, Msondo Ngoma Music Band has been around since 1964, with the current leader Maalim Gurumo, being the only original member left.

Being the oldest surviving band in East and Central Africa, read more

Eric Wainaina grew up saying that he was going to be a doctor, but his love for music reigned supreme. Shocked at first by his career choice, Eric's family supported his decision to venture into music from the very beginning. Whilst growing up, he was influenced musically by artists such read more

Fareed Kubanda, aka Fid Q is arguably Tanzania’s most prolific hiphop artist. His social awareness and political insightfulness coupled with profound lyrical prowess has propelled him to the upper echelons of the Rap Elite.

Fid Q has released two award-winning albums in Tanzania. He is currently finalising a third album read more

Founded in 2003 by artists Kasembe Ungani and Fadhili Mkenda who were both originally with Sisi Tambala, Zemkala is a six-piece band performing a style of music known as "ngwashala" with its roots from the south of Tanzania. Most of the songs they play have Tanzanian roots, combining tradition and read more

Mombasa based taarab group Lelelele Africa, formerly known as Diamond Star, formed in 1995.[[[ Over the years the band felt they needed a more original title, primarily one which was not in English, so in 2006 band leader Mbaraka Haji and new producer Elchie conceived the band read more

Ally Mohamed Ahmad, aka Z. Anto, was born in Dar es Salaam in 1988. In 2004 he approached Tiptop Connection, local producers of upcoming bongo flava artists, to give him a chance to record. They asked him to freestyle there and then but he failed the audition.

After a while he read more