Flash News
Just like deprivation, rivalry begets creativity. Some of the most popular rumba songs, ie 'mokolo tonga aka taileur' of Franco or 'Jela' of Ochieng Kabasele, were composed while the musicians were incarcerated at Makala prison In Kinshasa and King'ong'o Prison in Kenya, respectively.
The same can be said of rivalry. At peak of their careers, Tabuley and Luambo oftentimes sought to outdo each other and this urge worked wonders in pushing creativity a notch higher.
When Tabuley and Nico disagreed over the management of African Fiesta Original, the altercation led to the creation of two of the finest bands: African Fiesta Sukisa and its sibling, African Fiesta National, which was later rebranded as Afrisa International.
Wenge Musica, the mercurial band of the fifth generation had a splinter that resulted into the birth of two bands, Wenge Musica Maison Mere of Werrason and Wenge Musica BCBG of JB Mpiana. The resultant rivalry birthed stiff competition that gave lovers of music a long list of masterpieces.
The same can be said of Atomic Jazz from Tanzania. This Tanga-based band was deliberately named Atomic Jazz to imply the force with which it aimed to surpass and outshine the town's other popular band, Jamhuri Jazz.
This Tanga based rivalry pushed Tanzanian music, christened 'muziki wa densi' a notch higher in the era. The band was owned by businessman Julie's Kiluwa, who assembled some of the best musical brains in Tanzania at the time for its creation.
These were saxophonist John Mbula, singer Rodgers and conga player John Kiluwa, who was a brother to the band's owner/patron. John Kijiko was the band's soloist. Note that the word soloist in rumba circles refer to the solo guitarist.
The others were, rhythmist Hemed Mganga, who had previously plied his trade with Orchestra Makassy of Mzee Kitenzogu Makassy. The band also boasted the services of rhythmist Harison Siwale, bassist Dishen and singers Ziggy Said and Steve Hisa.
Some of the products of this highly talented pool of musicians, were mado, vipi mpenzi wangu, mahakimu, nakujutia salima, dunia ina mambo, usitamani kitu, and many more. Tanga became the hotbed of Tanzanian music.
It is equally worth noting that Mbaraka also played with this band briefly, when chaos had rocked Morogoro Jazz. However, quite uncharacteristic of him, he only played solo guitar and never sang for the band, in the songs that he participated in, like Tanzania Yetu, which was recorded in Mombasa, Kenya.
BY Jerome Ogola
Jabulani Radio Livestream
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