Tanzania

View Larger Map

Tanzania is the merging of two East African nations at the time of their Independence from the British and Germans in 1961. The island of Zanzibar and mainland of Tanganyika merged together to become Tanzania. Because the nation is coastal, there is a vast history of trade and conquerors. Beginning in the 15^th century Arab traders used the East African coast as a port or trade, especially the large island of Zanzibar. The trade in East Africa most significantly involved the selling of humans. Zanzibar remained an important port in the slave trade until the 1800s. It was only until the early 1900s for Tanganyika to renounce chattel labor. In 1886 the British and German governments signed the Delimitation treaty, which established British and German borders in mainland Tanganyika, and leaving local rule only in Zanzibar. However, Zanzibar experienced local rule in the form of Arab rulers. At this point the Germans had control over Tanganyika and the British over Kenya. By the 1900s Germany officially made Tanganyika a protectorate, and it stayed a protectorate until 1961. In the early 1900s the Majimaji rebels fought against German rule in southern Tanganyika. The local people constantly opposed foreign colonization and oppression, but it was only until the 1950s that a party was formed in both Tanganyika and Zanzibar to attempt to gain independence. Under the leadership of Julius Nyerere, Tanzania became independent and declared itself a socialist republic in 1961.

The country has 120 ethnic groups with differing cultures, social organization systems and languages. The largest group is the Sukuma group, which makes up 13% of the population, and because of the number of different groups, one group does not dominate the country's population. The two major religions in the country are Christianity and Islam, from the strong Arab influence on the coast. The island of Zanzibar is predominately Muslim.

After gaining independence the republic of Tanzania declared English and Swahili to be their two official languages. Although there are over 120 ethnic groups with their own languages the population mostly speaks Swahili. The majority of the other languages are also Bantu based. Swahili developed to encompass Arabic influences as well through the migration patterns of Arab traders through the coast.

Traditional Tanzanian music takes influence from many local ethnic groups as well as the Arab population. A popular form of music is called "Ngoma" which means drum in Swahili. Ngoma varies between ethnic groups and there are many different styles and rhythms that correspond with dances. Another traditional music from Zanzibar originally, but also now Tanzania is Taarab music. From the work "tariba" which means to be moved or agitated, Taarab music is a multi-instrumental orchestral sound.

Hip hop in Tanzania is a much newer phenomenon compared to its other rich musical traditions. Started by two local MCs in 1984 through exportation of American music tapes, hip hop was made popular through break dancing initially in Tanzania.  Then the form of rap and mc-ing began to flourish, although initially it was mostly American music. The artist who first began rapping in Swahili was Fresh X, but it was not until the mid-90s when more local artists used purely Swahili rap, because there was an increase in radio stations. Professor of ethnomusicology Alex Perullo writes that it was with the popularization of local mc competition shows that hip hop really established a foundation in the early 90s in Dar. Swahili rap from Tanzania began to be called "Bongo Flava," an urbanized slang word that originated in Dar es Salaam. The word "Bongo" itself originates from the Swahili word for brain, "Ubongo," as there was a level of intelligence and improvisation, which went into the music. And although Tanzanian music draws a lot of American influence and does have many hit pop style songs with no greater message, many artists pride themselves for incorporating a message and historical information in their songs. Musically, Bongo uses both traditional Tanzanian sounds as well as many western influences. Perullo writes:

Now this music may sound rather Western (...) but there are a lot of elements of it that are very Tanzanian (...) Instrumental wise, [the music is] very Western sounding, very American sounding. It sounds like American hip-hop. But in the way those instruments are used, it's very Tanzanian. The music is more laid-back. If you listen to Mr. II one of his first songs called "Hali Halisi," the music is very laid-back. It's sits behind to beat a bit, and lets the musician have kind of free space. There aren't really rich harmonies, which would be in a lot of other local music. And there's a huge space between of where you hear the vocals and you hear thumping base, or deep drum parts or things like that. But these things sort of make sense considering the history of Tanzanian music. There are a lot of elements in ngoma where you hear the same sort of thing. Space between the music and the person who is singing, or in this case rapping. There is a heavy focus on drums and percussion, just the same way in rap music. And they're sort of a laid-back feeling, even if it's upbeat. This is a very Tanzanian sound.

This incorporation of traditional cultural sounds as well as Western influence and the use of Swahili lyricism creates a uniquely Tanzanian style.

Some popular artist and production companies include, but are not limited to:

Mr. II (Sugu): Known when he first came out in the early 90s as 2 Proud, Mr. 2 or Mr. II who is now known as Sugu is one of the earliest Tanzanian bongo artists. He raps in Swahili with a powerful message about problems that the country is going through, including political issues, poverty and health. http://sugumusic.tripod.com/

Lady JayDee (Binti Machozi): First entered the Tanzanian music scene in the 90s as part of the Afro Reign group. She released her first single album in 2001, and has since become one of the most popular and best selling female artists in Tanzania. She uses Swahili as the primary language in her music. http://www.myspace.com/bintimachozi

Professor Jay: Professor Jay was part of the Hard Blasters crew who came out in 1994. He then went solo and became a highly popular and influential bongo artist in the country. He is known for transforming bongo from only "Street music" to having a larger audience base. Furthermore, his music always focuses on powerful messages pertaining to the Tanzanian people and their social and political condition.

http://www.babkubwa.com/?p=25

AY: Launched in 2000 as part of rap group S.O.G., AY went solo in 2002 and has since been a popular artists on the pop charts of East Africa. He sings and raps in Swahili, but is known to have a more commercial sound and style. However commercial hip hop in Tanzania is still quite educational and AY has not rejected having a message in his songs to sell records.

http://www.ay.co.tz/biography.php

Production companies include:

Babkubwa Media Productions: Signing artists like Professor Jay, and AY. It was started by Ralph Godden in 2004, and spans between the United Kingdom and Tanzania.

http://www.babkubwa.com/

Mambo Jambo Records

XtraPhat Records

Timeline Excerpt

- 15th century- Coastal Tanganyika and Zanzibar Island involved in trade routes with Arab traders as well as India

- 1776 French arrive on East African coast to begin a slave trade, which competed heavily with Arab slavers

- 1800s, European missionaries arrive in Tanganyika

- 1866 David Livingstone travels through Tanganyika campaigning for the stop of the slave trade, and promoting more missionary activity in the country.

- 1400s-1700s Zanzibar undergoes many transitions of power between different Arab rulers. Also transforms into a major slave trading capital.

- 1822 Sayyid Said agrees to sign the Moresby Treaty that prohibited the slave trade with any Christian nations and also to limit it among African and Arab peoples.

- 1836 U.S. establishes diplomatic relations of trade with Zanzibar and posts a consul there.

- 1840 Britain does the same.

- 1873 Slave trade completely ended in Zanzibar and Tanganyika coast.

- 1886 Germany and Great Britain sign the Delimitation Treaty, which creates a British and German border in Tanganyika, and leaves local rule only in Zanzibar.

- 1891 Germany declares parts of Tanganyika officially in their protectorate.

- 1897 Legal status of "slave" abolished in Zanzibar.

- 1905-1907 Majimaji War in Southern Tanganyika, where locals rebel again German rule, kicking Germans out of Tanganyika.

- 1919 Legal status of "slave" abolished in Tanganyika.

- 1954 Tanganyika African National Union formed under the leadership of Julius Nyerere.

- Late 1950s Afro Shirazi party formed in Zanzibar, also seeking political autonomy.

- 1961 Tanganyika becomes independent of both Great Britain and Germany and Julius Nyerere becomes the first Prime Minister.

- 1964 Zanzibar follows suit, and become independent of its Arab rulers.

- 1964 Tanganyika and Zanzibar merge together to form Tanzania, with Julius Nyerere as the first president. Nyerere established the country in a socialist fashion, with elections for a prime minister and president.

- 1971 Main radio station in Dar es Salaam, Radio Tanzania bans foreign music (which had largely been African American music from the 1950s-1970s i.e. James Brown), and plays only Tanzanian music. This increased local airplay, but also prevented growth through external musical influences.

- 1980s Tanzania begins to work with the IMF and reforms it's Socialist government because of severe poverty.

- 1984 Fresh X and Conway Francis get access to U.S. hip hop records like "Breakin'" and "Breakin' to Electric Boogloo." Because Tanzania was socialist external products were rare to come by. These two local artists kick started the popularity of break-dancing but also of recording hip hop songs and started a mix-tape circuit

- 1985 Ndugu Mwinyi is elected president.

- 1991 "Yo Rap Bonanza" MC competition happens in the New Africa Hotel, Dar es Salaam. The big thing at the time was to perform American hip hop songs and rap in English. However, one Tanzanian artist Saleh Ajabrey preformed "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla ice re-written with Swahili words speaking about aids.

- 1994 More local independent radios began to get created, playing both Tanzanian and foreign music, and a lot more hip hop.

- 1995 Benjamin Mpaka elected president.

- 1999 Clouds-FM a youth-oriented radio station is launched in capital, Dar es Salaam. This station currently is known in Tanzania for playing local artists and local music, including Tanzanian hip hop Bongo Flava and Musiki wa Dansi.

- 2005 Kikwete elected President.