Former President of Tanzania, Hon. Ali Hassan Mwinyi had a great sense of humor.. While presenting him our music album, he asked "Varda Arts Maridadi au Jamila?" We said, "Hakuna kama Mzee Ruksa!" The point to be noted here about his greatness is being a President, he humorously gave us a message with kind appreciation that he knew 'Varda Arts' and our songs 'Maridadi' & 'Jamila' !! When we told him "No one like Mzee Ruksa," it came out from the chore of our heart as we really meant it and was not just to please him.. I would like to share with you an incident about this great leader.. In the year 2009, our President delivered a perfect message when he preached peaceful coexistence between Muslims & Christians when a 26 year old rascal Ibrahim Said emerged from the congregation, walked up to the podium landing a slap on Mzee Mwinyi's flaccid cheek.. Our President pardoned him and did not arrest him portraying high command of tolerance.. To have such goodness and to be a good human being, there is always a price to pay.. The slap might be the cost of calmness, modesty and integrity.. Though all the religious scriptures of the world teach us tolerance, yet how many of us practically apply in our daily life? We become victim of our ego and we take revenge to satisfy ourselves against those who are identified as uncivilized ignoramus people of the Stone Age.. The Bible states : Mathew 5:38 or Luke 6:29.. "On his own part he (Jesus) was not merely slapped on the cheek..He was thrashed with sticks and all manner of straps before he was nailed on to the cross.. Yet, none of his torturers was arrested, as he expired, he asked God to forgive all.."
We pray to God to bless our country with a tolerant & humble President like Mzee Mwinyi in the forthcoming election!!
We pray to God to bless our country with a tolerant & humble President like Mzee Mwinyi in the forthcoming election!!
We never thought we would have a good fortune to sing for our former President of Tanzania, Al Hajj Ali Hassan Mwinyi to wish best wishes to him recently during his 90th Birth Day! We sang "Happy Birthday to You!" while the happiness the Mheshimiwa gave us will be treasured for a life time! A Birth Day gift presented to "Mzee Ruksa" by us was our five Swahili Music Albums as a true wish of happiness from the joy of deeds well done during his Presidency from 1985 to 1995..
In the pic is our brother Iqbal Varda & Yunus Senior..All this occurred during the African Rally Championship 2015 that took place at the Southern Sun Hotel.. on 12th and 14th June!
In the pic is our brother Iqbal Varda & Yunus Senior..All this occurred during the African Rally Championship 2015 that took place at the Southern Sun Hotel.. on 12th and 14th June!
This was in Nairobi, Hilton Hotel, while Yunus was singing "Shirdi waale Sai Baba.." when a group of Muslim devotees of this pious Saint furiously got on the stage, fiercely snatched the mike and stopped us from singing! Their objection was, how dare we sinful musicians render divine Quawwali of revered Sai Baba! We realized the group had nothing to offer intellectually or spiritually but a headache! So, we decided to quit the show itself!
Organizers gathered and begged us to compromise as that group was their 'Sponsors' ad those in the audience had the power of money! The group suggested instead to sing "Pardah hai Pardah.." Quawwali from the same movie! When Yunus sang, the audience went wild, cheering, clapping, dancing, enjoying and showering tips! When we finished, the same group once again got on the stage, this time shouting "Once more! Once more!" with an irritating attitude not requesting but forcing us to sing it again!
Thus, I announced, "Janab, your sentiments were hurt when we sang 'Shirdi waale Sai Baba..' but your sentiments are not injured where a Muslim boy named Akber, vows 'Parda-nashin ko Be-parda na kardun to Akber mera naam nahin!' meaning, 'I will not call myself Akber (a Muslim) if I fail to unveil the veil (of a Muslim girl)' and you are shouting for more!
Naturally, the show came to close at this point! Though, we suffered the after effects but did not bargain our self-respect and have no regrets at all!
Later, the same organizers invited us again to Nairobi, hired Eagle Stars Apartments for a four months stay and we performed whole over Kenya! Interestingly, they requested us to take citizenship of Kenya!
Criticism can be a pleasant experience too!!
Organizers gathered and begged us to compromise as that group was their 'Sponsors' ad those in the audience had the power of money! The group suggested instead to sing "Pardah hai Pardah.." Quawwali from the same movie! When Yunus sang, the audience went wild, cheering, clapping, dancing, enjoying and showering tips! When we finished, the same group once again got on the stage, this time shouting "Once more! Once more!" with an irritating attitude not requesting but forcing us to sing it again!
Thus, I announced, "Janab, your sentiments were hurt when we sang 'Shirdi waale Sai Baba..' but your sentiments are not injured where a Muslim boy named Akber, vows 'Parda-nashin ko Be-parda na kardun to Akber mera naam nahin!' meaning, 'I will not call myself Akber (a Muslim) if I fail to unveil the veil (of a Muslim girl)' and you are shouting for more!
Naturally, the show came to close at this point! Though, we suffered the after effects but did not bargain our self-respect and have no regrets at all!
Later, the same organizers invited us again to Nairobi, hired Eagle Stars Apartments for a four months stay and we performed whole over Kenya! Interestingly, they requested us to take citizenship of Kenya!
Criticism can be a pleasant experience too!!
YUNUS VARDA BORN ON 5TH SEPTEMBER.
Growing together and sharing precious musical moments all these years has formed a special bond between Varda Brothers!We wish you a Happy Birthday dear brother Yunus Junior 🎂 We are lucky to have a multi-talented brother like you as an actor/singer/musician & so on!You are a true inspiration to us & many! Have a joyful day singing Yeh Jho Halka Halka Suroor Hai..🎶🎹 Paanke Kuroooo!
Growing together and sharing precious musical moments all these years has formed a special bond between Varda Brothers!We wish you a Happy Birthday dear brother Yunus Junior 🎂 We are lucky to have a multi-talented brother like you as an actor/singer/musician & so on!You are a true inspiration to us & many! Have a joyful day singing Yeh Jho Halka Halka Suroor Hai..🎶🎹 Paanke Kuroooo!
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