AIDS concert rocks Tanzania
Dec 19, 2002
The huge crowd that turned up for the international AIDS awareness concert in Dar es Salaam last Saturday, reduced the national stadium to a size of a humble dance hall!
By Raphael Okello in Dar es Salaam
The huge crowd that turned up for the international AIDS awareness concert in Dar es Salaam last Saturday, reduced the national stadium to a size of a humble dance hall!
The concert lined up an intriguing menu of celebrated artists from Africa and Europe. From Uganda came Jose chameleon and Tempra Omona. From South Africa came the smooth sounds of Bongo muffins. From Kenya was elegant Maysi Mayra and from Finland came the notorious Kwan band.
From East Africa came the Swedish-based Swahili Nation and from Tanzania emerged Professor Jay, Crazy GK and Saida Kaloli among others.
With a remix of Malayika, and Mapenzi Kivumiliana by the Akili tribe, good vocals by Banana and lingala oldies from Tanzanian old stars, the concert started off with a slow but captivating tempo.
Pauline, a Tanzanian singer had a crisp voice and graceful movements that enthralled the audience.
Singing Back to the motherland, Akuna Matata and a slower remix of malayika, Swahili Nation displayed great art and vocal authority.
The only new thing they, however, presented was the pretty queen dancing Swedish damsels. Combining both African pervasive and rigorous dance gimmicks with the European gallantry and sophisticated body angling, Tanzanians were spontaneously left gasping in excitement.
But when the notorious, tattooed and body-pinned Kwan band from Finland came on stage, the audience was taken by storm with their peculiar music genre - rock-edged-hip hopish-pop.
The unlikely duet of Saida Kaloli and Tanzanian rap star, Benjamin, produced a shockingly pleasant sound in the song ekitoobero. Benjamin’s contemporary swahili hip hop style and Karoli’s rustic voice could have easily been a mismatch but they wove an intricate musical coalition that harmoniously united two distinct voices. Jose chame-leon’s thunderous reception astounded me. The crowd was thrilled to listen to his songs Njoo karibu and dolotia but they were sent wild by Mama mia, which has captured a wide audience in this swahili speaking nation.
To spice up his stage rendition, he employed the dance expertise of the shadows angels (Didi, Hassin and Missy) who sent the audience reeling with delight. I am sure that every single Tanzanian was offered more than their money’s worth.
Once the Prime minister had delivered his speech about the need to protect ourselves against the AIDS scourge and then left shortly after, the Master of Ceremony authorised the guards to let the ‘parting dogs’ from the pavilion into the field, closer to the stage.
Hell broke loose as the crowd swarmed in the pitch, screaming and yelling in reverie. But outstanding rap performances and stage discipline from Crazy GK and A.Y brilliantly measured up to the crowd’s expectations. They were celebrating life. Incidentally that was the theme for the international AIDS awareness concert.
The huge crowd that turned up for the international AIDS awareness concert in Dar es Salaam last Saturday, reduced the national stadium to a size of a humble dance hall!
The concert lined up an intriguing menu of celebrated artists from Africa and Europe. From Uganda came Jose chameleon and Tempra Omona. From South Africa came the smooth sounds of Bongo muffins. From Kenya was elegant Maysi Mayra and from Finland came the notorious Kwan band.
From East Africa came the Swedish-based Swahili Nation and from Tanzania emerged Professor Jay, Crazy GK and Saida Kaloli among others.
With a remix of Malayika, and Mapenzi Kivumiliana by the Akili tribe, good vocals by Banana and lingala oldies from Tanzanian old stars, the concert started off with a slow but captivating tempo.
Pauline, a Tanzanian singer had a crisp voice and graceful movements that enthralled the audience.
Singing Back to the motherland, Akuna Matata and a slower remix of malayika, Swahili Nation displayed great art and vocal authority.
The only new thing they, however, presented was the pretty queen dancing Swedish damsels. Combining both African pervasive and rigorous dance gimmicks with the European gallantry and sophisticated body angling, Tanzanians were spontaneously left gasping in excitement.
But when the notorious, tattooed and body-pinned Kwan band from Finland came on stage, the audience was taken by storm with their peculiar music genre - rock-edged-hip hopish-pop.
The unlikely duet of Saida Kaloli and Tanzanian rap star, Benjamin, produced a shockingly pleasant sound in the song ekitoobero. Benjamin’s contemporary swahili hip hop style and Karoli’s rustic voice could have easily been a mismatch but they wove an intricate musical coalition that harmoniously united two distinct voices. Jose chame-leon’s thunderous reception astounded me. The crowd was thrilled to listen to his songs Njoo karibu and dolotia but they were sent wild by Mama mia, which has captured a wide audience in this swahili speaking nation.
To spice up his stage rendition, he employed the dance expertise of the shadows angels (Didi, Hassin and Missy) who sent the audience reeling with delight. I am sure that every single Tanzanian was offered more than their money’s worth.
Once the Prime minister had delivered his speech about the need to protect ourselves against the AIDS scourge and then left shortly after, the Master of Ceremony authorised the guards to let the ‘parting dogs’ from the pavilion into the field, closer to the stage.
Hell broke loose as the crowd swarmed in the pitch, screaming and yelling in reverie. But outstanding rap performances and stage discipline from Crazy GK and A.Y brilliantly measured up to the crowd’s expectations. They were celebrating life. Incidentally that was the theme for the international AIDS awareness concert.