EARLY TANZANIAN MUSIC

A BRIEF NOTE ON EARLY TANZANIAN MUSIC:

It is right to say that Varda Arts had a discernible nationalistic agenda and design of dissent and protest against South Africa and love for their country. It is manifest in their patriotic songs. There were many other bands who too contributed and to a certain extent, the listeners in rural areas who were politically not so conscious were motivated from the message of the songs through radio, the only source in those days. The Swahili usage of Varda Arts in their poetry has been appreciated even by the Professors of Swahili. This scenario changed among the poets after the emergence of private radio owners which at present are not restricted. The usage of Swahili poetry has undermined today among some of the media owners. To sight one example is a title ‘Bongo Flava’ which represents ‘Tanzanian music.’

‘Bongo’ is a word borrowed from Zaire which means ‘city’ and has been adapted by Tanzanians who are known for their best Swahili in the continent of Africa. This is one example. However, as a Tanzanian, one must be concerned about their national language. If Tanzanians will not value Swahili, than who will treasure this language?

The period in which the musicians passed after Independence meant an active role of high standard of self-reliance. Due to this system, they passed through humiliation and had to struggle a lot for musical instruments and equipments. There was only one Radio-Station RTD (now TBC) which recorded the songs of all the bands. You had to wait for months to get into that studio. Rapid and qualitative changes in recording technology and equipment took place after the year 2000. These changes surely affected music-making in major ways. Singers acquired ‘Star’ value. Private and modern music-studios emerged in the country which helped immensely the quality of music in Tanzania today.