STORY BEHIND VARDA ARTS SONGS

HISTORY BEHIND SOME OF THE VARDA ARTS ALL-TIME GREATEST SWAHILI SUPER-HIT SONGS:‘MARIDADI SANA’ (1984):

This was the first break-through debut Album song which was played over and over on Radio-Tanzania DSM (RTD) topping the charts for several weeks during that era. The song was an instant hit among all groups of people- young and old. It’s poetry is still valid and that makes this song – ‘timeless’ –an all time hit song with a touch of humor produced by Varda Arts in 1984 flaunting their talents. The issues high lightened in the song are probably even more relevant today than when the song was released. That is why this song will always remain topical as it remains one of those timeless songs by Varda Arts emerging as a mega-hit along with it’s brilliant poetry which endures to this day.
Due to the weak copy-right law in the country, this song made many pirates of the unauthorized works of the artiste rich through piracy. Varda Arts did not get a single penny out of this track- it was a much ado about nothing. However, they got fame through this song that made them famous in each and every corner of the country. Until then, they were not confident whether they will be accepted by the African-community due to their music blended with Indian flavor and Swahili lyrics. A new ind of music made it’s entrance into the Tanzanian music scene which drew people’s attention for latter Albums. A new beauty, a combination of Indian melody and Kiswahili poetry was born penetrating the hearts of many and by so doing proving to all and sundry that music has the ability to eliminate boundaries, to remove frontiers, to ignore languages and cement beauty for the thing beauty is a joy forever!



‘MWALIMU NYERERE’ (1984):

A great song about a great man, that is the way we can summarize this song which became a super-hit number of 1984. It made Tanzanians proud to be blessed by a great leader who was the charismatic Father of the Nation, Julius. K. Nyerere. The song was constantly aired by Radio Tanzania and during the famous ‘Dial-a-Dice’ program by the Round-Table Club of Dar es Salaam to raise funds for it’s charitable projects. During the same era of 1980’s, Varda Arts Swahili numbers have also been heard from Voice of Germany, Voice of America, BBC, and All-India Radio Swahili Services. It was during this during this time, that a musical history was recorded as Varda Arts as a mark of excellence, got a direct invitation from the CCM Head Quarters and the group was given the honor to entertain more than 2000 members of the Parliament during the third party Congress at Kizota (Dodoma) in October, 1987.
Coming back to the song, again, Varda Arts did not get any returns out of this great song ‘Kiongozi Wetu Mwalimu Nyerere,’ in spite of it’s extensive air-play. Royalties which are the lifelines of musicians, were not paid then. Music-parties had a field’s day and like shy clock took a pond of flesh! In developed countries like U.S.A and U.K talent oriented jobs like music are highly rewarded. Sadly, lot of Varda Arts songs ended benefiting other people rather than themselves. Music-pirates have made fortune through many Varda Arts hit songs. However, Varda Arts did not give up, as Mwalimu Julius Nyerere once asserted – “Hakuna sumu mbaya maishani kama kukata tama,” meaning there is no greater destructive force (poison) in life than throwing in the towel, that is when the going gets tough.
It is time 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 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 determined today among some of the media owners. To sight one exampleis 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 it’s 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 instrument 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 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.




'WASIA WA BABA'(MWALIMU JULIUS NYERERE) (1999):

This song was immediately composed, sung, recorded and released within two days by Varda Arts at the time of the death of Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere on the 14th October, 1999. . Varda Arts was the first band to come out with this all-time tribute during the last journey of Mwalimu Nyerere. . According to Radio TBC, it was extensively aired throughout the mourning period of two weeks. . Though, the name “Mwalimu Nyerere” has not been mentioned in the entire song, yet, a listener can identify, it is – Mwalimu Nyerere! That is the artistic beauty of its composition. .This song is one more master-piece dedication to the Father of the Nation. . It left an indelible mark upon the minds of the citizens who have been reported to shed tears and to have sympathized Mwalimu during that period. . One of the biggest complimentary remarks by one prominent figure was, “I did not like Mwalimu, but this song has touched my emotions deeply. . You deserve to be awarded. .” However award or no award, but Varda Arts feel rewarded by the love showered by the entire nation for their work as it is said, that which comes out from your heart, reaches the heart.




‘NCHI YETU TANZANIA’ (1984):

Varda Arts have always been at the fore-front when a need arises to contribute towards the Nation. They have the highest number of recorded patriotic songs totalizing to sixteen and more. They have composed and played numerous songs on the importance of building a socialist-state, education for self-reliance, rights of women, children, Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, political-campaign, road-safety, etc. Varda Arts has also joined the masses in mourning the Late Prime Minister Edward Sokoine, Mozambican President the Late Samora Moises Machel, and the Late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, and Mzee Rashidi Mfaume Kawawa. They have extolled the virtues and motivated the Tanzanian Military troupes in their campaigns against Iddi Amin and condemn the racist boer South African regime. In a nut-shell, Varda Arts have always remained patriotic for their love towards the nation as we all know patriotism is part of faith.
During the era of 1980’s, Varda Arts’ patriotic songs like ‘Nchi yetu Tanzania’ and Tazama Tanzania’ became so popular among Isles peoples that these songs were being taught to children at schools in Zanzibar.
‘Nchi yetu Tanzania’ is one out of many of the patriotic songs produced by Varda Arts dedicated to all the soldiers and victims who fought during the ‘Vita ya Kagera’ war. This song was released after Dictator Iddi Amin took to his heels alone and disgraced from Uganda. Varda Arts became the prominent Tanzanian Musicians who contributed to the success of music development in Tanzania.

‘TAZAMA TANZANIA’ (1985):

Varda Arts were honored to participate in the 1st ever Tanzania ‘Top-Ten’ song competition to find the best song in the year 1988. Varda Arts competition song titled ‘Tazama Tanzania’ was adjudged 8th out of twenty seven entries creating history in the Tanzania music-scene for the only Indian band to win the competition considering that this was wholly Asian and singing in Kiswahili in competition with veteran, seasoned, well-equipped and established African musical orchestra.
The song portrays Tanzania as paradise regained and acknowledges God to bless Tanzania for it’s Natural beauty, beautiful sea-shore, Mount Kilimanjaro, National Parks, Natural Resources, and it’s charming citizens united under one umbrella.
The Award was presented by the National Arts Council of Tanzania (BASATA) at the packed National Stadium of Dar-es-Salaam. (BASATA is an organ under the Ministry of Education & Culture, in it’s effort of establishing a mechanism for identifying and honoring national artists.)
Two of their Musicians Yunus Senior and Yunus Junior were then selected in Tanzania’s National Band, the ‘All-Stars Orchestra’ by BASATA to perform together with veteran and great musicians like Marijani Rajabu, Zahir Allly (Zorro), Muhidin Gurumo, Maneti, Hamza Kalala, Doctor Remmy, for a charity purpose. The reason for the selection was that Varda Arts was one of the most versatile band which could sing in practically in many languages. Yunus Senior played an Indian instrument ‘Tabla’ and Yunus Junior sang a part of ‘Hindi’ with other singers in the song ‘Freedom for Africa.’ What contributed to the group’s extreme popularity was that basically an Asian group, they sang in Kiswahili with a poetic bend of mind.
It was after the release of this Award-winning song, ‘Tazama Tanzania’ that Varda Arts reached the zenith of their misic-career. They started receiving invitations from various charitable organizations to raise funds for their noble-projects. Varda Arts since then, made an immense contribution to many charity organizations not only in Tanzania, but also in Kenya, through their music. The group’s contribution is also well-known to the people of Mozambique, Ethiopian famine-relief, Mother Theresa, Muhimbili Mediacal Centre Children’s Ward, Tanzania Heart Foundation, Round-Table Club, Lions-Club and the list is endless!




‘WATOTO’ (1986):

Varda Arts during 1980’s, introduced Nipa, an Indian expatriate child from Calcutta, groomed her and she recorded her song in Swahili language for the first time at the age of 6 with R.T.D. (Radio-Tanzania)
She was spotted at one of the Lions Club function where she was introduced by Dr. Rajni Kanabar. She came and performed there as a dancer along with her elder sister Shreyashy. Both were highly talented in dancing. But Varda Arts made both sisters to go for vocal singing apart from choreography. And after a very good support from their parents Mr. & Mrs. Nag, and individual efforts by both sisters, they emerged as a very effective singers and performers on the stage.



‘BWANA KUTOKA AMERICA’ (1986):

The most popular ‘comic’ number of the year. ‘Siyo tumbo, sema tembo!’ – the lines sung in this song had become so popular in those days that many advertising companies copied and used this phrase to advertise their products in their commercials.
The message in this song is that love has no color, creed, or any language-barrier. The beauty of the song is it’s unique style in which it portrays love between two lovers belonging to two different cultures. An American tourist coming to Africa falls in love with a local African lady- both face the problem of communication. He cannot express his love in Swahili and she too has problem with English.
The song beautifully portrays their romance in the song and at the same time points out that how a single word in any language if misused during conversation or in our pronunciation, can entirely become a humor or a disaster! It is an excellent work of art created by Varda Arts to came out with a humorous song that can bring smiles over the face of not only the listeners, but even to a person who has no ear for music! Not only in Kiswahili, Varda Arts have also produced several humorous songs in different languages for Gujarati, Cutchi, and Hindi speaking communities which have been highly appreciated.
Varda Arts remained in the media spot-light throughout 1980’s to late 1990’s due to their immense potential and exemplary service for the benefit of the Nation and promoting music-industry in Tanzania.




‘VARDA ARTS – LIVE IN KENYA’ (1987):



In the year 1987, Varda Arts, in collaboration with the ‘Tanzania Heart Foundation’ organized a first ever ‘Multi-Star’ charity show attended by India’s Great Stars like Maestro Dilip Kumar, with his actress wife Saira Banu, the Bollywood play-back singer Mahendra Kapoor with his actor-son Rohan Kapoor and the very definition of ‘comedy’-actor Mehmood in Tanzania. Twenty children were sent to India and U.S.A for an open-heart surgery for the first time in the history of Tanzania.
Varda Arts, as the co-organizers of the Dilip Kumar show, themselves raised the curtain by rendering two welcome songs in Kiswahili- ‘Nchi yetu Tanzania’ and ‘Mwalimu Nyerere.’ The Tanzanian audience witnessed how the group of only five Varda Arts musicians turned the packed Diamond Jubilee Hall into frenzy and excitement through their performance which highly impressed the visiting Indian-Stars especially Mahendra Kapoor who himself crowded Yunus Junior who sang with him in a female voice Varda Arts did not only win the hearts of the Indian-Stars, but all the twenty invited Diplomats and Politicians of Tanzania besides the first lady Mama Maria Nyerere the Chief-guest of the show and the wife of the Founder of the Nation Mwalimu Julius K.Nyerere. Mama Maria could not resist the charm and temptation of music by Varda Arts in a song ‘Kiongozi wetu Mwalimu Nyerere’ and came dancing on the stage to crown Varda Arts. The show was a great success as the packed Diamond Jubilee audience was glued to their seats until the last song by the visiting play-back singer Mahendra Kapoor and his troupe. He won the hearts of the Tanzanians by singing few verses in Kiswahili taught by Varda Arts. Two of the Varda Arts artists, Aziz and Yunus went to Nairobi on behalf of the ‘Tanzania Heart Foundation’ where the troupe was performing and though reluctant, they were able to convince the Indian troupe leader Dilip Kumar who accepted to visit Dar es Salaam for a one-day show out of his tight schedule for the noble cause of suffering heart-children. Though it may be known to few, but not to many regarding the fact that the whole idea of inviting Dilip Kumar to Tanzania, originated with Varda Arts. The main player of this show was Aziz Varda, the source of idea, as he had met Dilip Kumar at his Pali Hill Bungalow at Bandra, India, in the year 1986 with his four year old child Nazia who was suffering from Thalessemia. In 1987, when Dilip Kumar was in Nairobi with his musical troupe, Aziz thought of inviting him to Tanzania for one show to help other suffering children. The only reason why he approached ‘Tanzania Heart Foundation’ first and not any other international-connected charity organizations nor the even more resourceful businessmen was because Aziz Varda was morally indebted to T.H.F especially Dr. Rajni Kanabar and his family who had helped him take his suffering child to the Jaslok Hospital in Bombay for treatment.
Aziz shared his idea with Dr. Rajni Kanabar who had been skeptical about the whole idea and had accepted it on a ‘wait and see’ basis. However, it was after he agreed to extend his full support, Aziz Varda proceed to Nairobi to make contact with Dilip Kumar. Thus, it was that instance with Dilip Kumar with child Nazia that convinced Dilip Kumar to perform with his twenty four crew of people to come to Tanzania for T.H.F through which ten children went for Heart-surgery to India and ten to U.S.A out of which all the open heart surgery operation carried out were successful by the grace of God. It was a mission accomplished.
Varda Arts, during that time, had not even a single ‘micro-phone’ of their own. They used to hire the sound –system and other at exhorbitant rates, more than what they charged for their entire whole night performance! Varda Arts, refused T.H.F even the travelling expense of their visit on their behalf with belief that the prayers by the parents those suffering children who get ‘new life’ was more ever-lasting and rewarding comparing to any acknowledgement or award in this world.
Various charity organizations since then always remembered Varda Arts during their fundraising activity as they believe that Varda Arts is the band which ensures success. It was after this musical-show Varda Arts started getting invitations from Kenya and have performed in Nairobi, Kisumu, Kisii and other places several times for the Lions Club of Kenya and the Ismailia community of Nairobi and Mombasa.
‘Varda Arts – Live in Kenya’ is a live-recorded program. One of the memorable Varda Arts Live performance organized by the Lions-Club of Nairobi under the Chairmanship of Lion Rauf Khan in the year 1987.

‘TUMPE SIFA MWINYI’ (1985):

Varda Arts wrote this song in praise of President Ali Hassan Mwinyi in the year 1985. It was aired over and over by Radio-Tanzania throughout the period of Election. This song made great inpact among Tanzanians during CCM campaign in 1985 for re-electing a humble and a very Dynamic Leader of the Nation, President Al-Haj Ali Hassan Mwinyi. It was an outstanding contribution to the Nation for it’s timelyrelease by then – the most famous music group – the Varda Arts.

‘CCM IDUMU’ (1986):

In the year 1986, Varda Arts composed and released another super-hit composition as their humble contribution towards the ruling political party, CCM.(Chama Cha Mapinduzi) The song portrays the quality and values the foundation of the CCM party laid by the greatest leader of Africa, Mwalimu. Julius K. Nyerere.
It should be noted here, that multi-party system was not yet introduced in the country till then. This number was often repeatedly aired by Radio-Tanzania Dar-es-Salaam during the occasions of ‘Chama Cha Mapinduzi.’ A great patriotic song with a poetic touch by Varda Arts which touched the hearts of all CCM members in 1986 as it reminds the golden era of CCM and Varda Arts. It was after the release of such patriotic songs, CMM never missed Varda Arts during their celebration or a political campaign.