Musical Compilation - Tanzania

Most of the music that I heard in the streets and the bars and cafes of Tanzania, I was told, is Congolese in origin.
And some Kenyan as well.

So I'll try to stick to Tanzanian stuff here.


Well, I didn't go to Zanzibar - so here's what I missed:

(Although the skyscraper scenes are Nairobi. For contrast I suppose.....)



Some Tanzanian jazz - the Jamhuri Jazz Band.




After entering Tanzania, I took the long dirt road to Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika.
You can get a train there as well. The Central Line, but not as I know it, (the one where I grew up).


Music from Rose Muhando and Konono No 1.



And now we're in the very pleasant port and lakeside town of Kigoma. I might not have visited Zanzibar but I'm very glad indeed to have spent time here. It's one of dozens of highlights of the whole trip!




Eastwards from Kigoma, I spent a while in Singida (where I met the spitting image of the 'A' Team's Mr. T).
Here's a celebration under way in an outlying village.




Next was the capital, Dodoma.
Like Kenya, there's a significant Christian influence in Tanzania. This is an Anglican choir performing outside the Dodoma Hotel.




Then it was south to Iringa town where I stayed a short while in the mountains beyond.
This is from a village in the local area.




And now, Tanzanian 'Music Dancers'. Mainly Congolese influence I think.




Tanzanian popular music is called 'Bongo'.
Here, leading Tanzanian artist 'Diamond' performs 'Mbagala'.




The last place I stayed before crossing into Malawi was the little town of Tukuyu. One of those places where you get torn between wanting to linger day after day, and wanting to head off to the next country. Because on a journey without a timetable, each morning, it doesn't matter much which you do.
I've since found this youtube, and I wish I'd found Bongo Camping when I was there. (Although I found a hilltop hotel right in town with magnificent views over the surrounding tea plantations).
For anyone learning the language, there are Swahili and English lyrics in the notes.




Finally, here's a medley of individual traditional instruments.
Master Musician Joseph Mbaryo from the Muyangu Music Ensemble demonstrates the zeze (gourd fiddle), ilimba (thumb piano) and isumbi (zither).

Posted by Ken Thomas at August 14, 2012 08:09 PM GMT