There is a reason we promote lions that climb trees in Lake Manyara. There is a reason countries have their own beloved songs. There are many reasons why tourists pay lots of money to go see Kangaroos in Australia or Moshi to scale Mount Kilimanjaro. And it is justified why we should pause and pay attention to a Tanzanian band called Mvula Mandondo Tolekaa. If you don't know what it means, please !Keep on reading.
There are reasons why we are celebrating 100 years of Mwalimu Nyerere's birthday in 2022. There are many reasons why Saidi Kanda, band leader of Mvula Mandondo Tolekaa, (a Tanzanian man-child born around when Mwalimu and Mzee Kawawa and the Sykes brothers were toiling hard for TANU to kick off the invaders)was honoured with an award of World Percussionist of the year in Paris, in 1989. There are reasons that societies value their unique and smart citizens. If so... why did Saidi Kanda tell me early this week that he has toured and played in some of the massive international festivals and worked with famous stars like Grace Jones, and that he is always proud to wear Tanzanian colours? Black, Green, Yellow, Blue. Those colours! Always paraded PROUDLY, by a white Tanzanian called Bongo Zozo.
Why would Edward Shearer produce his album, Ambush and the English jazz saxophonist, Alan Skidmore value a man born in Bagamoyo? And why has a town in the UK called Brighton include on its list of significant individuals, a Tanzanian musician?
“Even if I were to die today, my name is in Brighton,” Mr Kanda told me humbly but proudly, on Monday. And more important.
Why is music so vital, anyway?
Tanzanian High Commissioner, Her Excellency, Asha Rose Migiro with Saidi Kanda (right) and Mvula Mandondo singer, Fab Moses. Pic by F Macha
Why do we sing happy birthday to our friends and families? Why do we chant in funerals and churches and national rallies? Why do we sigh and roll eyes each time we see an absent minded youth listening to music on their earphones; lost and unaware his (or her) trousers are almost falling down? Because music is lovely; I hear someone yelling. And. Why do mothers and parents croon to babies to sleep and cheer them up? Why is music so fulfilling? WHY ? Why do we dance and relax to music while driving? Yes, music is in films and in restaurants and travel vehicles. Music is everywhere. We cannot deny.
And each place has its sound. You go to Colombia and Brazil and Paraguay and Puerto Rico they mention Cumbia and Salsa and Merengue and Samba and Reggaeton (Latin Rap). Nigeria developed Afro Beat through the legendary Fela Kuti. And Haiti gave us Zouk. Which historically has roots in West Africa especially Nigeria and Ghana. And when we listen to current East African stars like Diamond, we love Jeje and Mtasubiri, which have a Zouk rhythm. Do we care where it is from? We just love Diamond and...
And here comes Mvula Mandondo Tolekaa. Saidi explains the word is a mix of Bantu (mvula- rain), Mandondo (Zaramo for beans), and Tolekaa in, Lingala - “lets go!”
During the last few years Mvula Mandondo played some of the biggestfestivals in the UK e.g. Tropical Pressure Festival in Wales and Africa Oyee in Liverpool. Of Tropical Pressure, the audience was , 60,000 which is around the population of Korogwe town
Mvula Mandondo, has been hailed as the sound of Tanzania and East Africa. Kenyan based recording label, Ketebul Music, just released one their songs : Mama Dhurufa. The band has fellow Tanzanian, Fabrah Shinanjee (stage name Fab Moses) as front man and lead singer. Fab Moses is chair of WASATU (Union of Tanzanian Artists in UK).
Mboka Liya (popularly known as Burkina Faso) lead guitarist, was once among the Wenge Musica outfit. Wenge Musica contributed immensely to the development of the Ndombolo sound, we love so much. Bassist Tom Fairbairn and kit drummer Milba “Mille Baguette” Kapamby hold the rhythm section. Mvula Mandondo's sound has been described as original.
First due to Saidi Kanda's knowledge of Tanzanian traditional music and interesting history.
He was first encouraged (and taught)by his late grandmother. His Baba did not want him to play percussion (tumba) so he broke his index finger which to this day is still misshapen. After stints with various bands including Biashara, he joined Remmy Ongala's Matimila. Coming to Europe, he later gigged with Africans and non Africans. Apart from percussion (Congas, Djembe etc.) he plays Ilimba (thumb piano), Zeze, Edungu, Guitar, Kit Drums and many other instruments. Multi talented
Saidi makes all his instruments. He is also a certified engineer, who has worked in music studios and runs his own. He is also a construction scientist who can a build a whole house from scratch. These natural talents walk side by side with his love for clothes and fashion. And the part of the God given gift has already been inherited by his grandson, Ayubu. At ten, Ayubu, already loves and plays Ngoma.
Published in Citizen Tanzania Fridays
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