Said Mabera (1948–2020) was a legendary Tanzanian guitar virtuoso and bandleader who became a cornerstone of the muziki wa dansi scene. Most notably recognized for his long-standing leadership of the Juwata Jazz Band (now known as Msondo Ngoma Music Band), he joined the group in 1973 and eventually took the helm as bandleader and lead guitarist in 1977. Throughout the 1980s, Mabera was the creative force behind many of the band's most enduring hits, including "Aisere" and "Usia kwa Watoto," and he was celebrated for his ability to blend traditional Tanzanian rhythms with Congolese-influenced rumba. After a career spanning over four decades and solidifying Msondo Ngoma’s reputation as the "father of music" (baba ya muziki), Mabera passed away in Dar es Salaam in September 2020 at the age of 72.