In our time, we used to write and sing our own songs. Played and composed music in different languages including the rich Swahili East African language. Made music videos. Performed in Hotels and traveled throughout East Africa doing stage shows and live concerts in stadiums. We organized several International concerts with great artists like Dilip Kumar and Mahendra Kapoor in Tanzania. We had our Photography Studio and we wrote and published a picture-novel book called “Dr. Yes”. We did sound engineering, editing and mixing for movies in our studio. We worked as “Radio DJ” at F.M Radio Station as Producer and Presenter. We made several Swahili Movies, by Producing, Directing, Writing Story, Lyrics and Dialogues, also Singing, Acting, and giving Background music, as the pioneers in movie making in Tanzania now known as ‘Bongo Movies’. We worked with leading News Papers writing weekly columns and articles in several Magazines over cultural issues. We worked with a Television company where we Produced Documentaries, high profile Interviews, News Casting, while also writing and producing more than 100 Swahili Comedy and Drama Episodes that became highly famous. Whenever there was need to raise funds for a Charity Organization or a Political Campaign, we were the first to be remembered to ensure success, as Varda Arts was not only a name among Tanzanians of Asian and African Community and due to our contribution to the Nation’s cultural fabric, we were invited to perform in presence of the Father of the Nation Mwalimu Nyerere followed by the following three Presidents of Tanzania.
It was difficult to earn respect in the Entertainment Industry in our time. This was a big issue as music was looked down on as a ‘Time Pass’ hobby and not a serious profession. People advised us to ‘get a real job.’ That was a general perception of an artist those days. Sitting in a ‘Dala-Dala’ bus we hid our faces in order to not be recognized. For many years, we were made guilty for our profession and were given derogatory names as performing artists. We happily accepted that we shall spend our life in unhealthy criticism against us.
Internet brought the realization and changed the perception of our changing cultural trends with huge impact. Maria Richa Adhia Richa Adhia became a celebrity winning the crown of ‘Miss Tanzania.’ Businessmen now sing in our shows and do not feel inhibited in singing themselves with pride. We find Professional Models, Make-up Artists, Fashion Designers, Photographers, Event Organizers, Cake Designers, Singers, DJs and Sound Engineers doing commendable jobs connected to art with respect.
Our minds should not be clouded by negative elements of artists. At the same time artists should not look to those Businessmen with more wealth to see how they are living in comparison to their own lives wanting more success with short-cuts.
