Professor Ken Edwards.

Professor Mkhululi.

It’s seven years!

I still remember one sunny day, when we drove around the city (Dar Es Salaam) for hours, looking for individuals and somehow trying to deal with unfinished businesses.

In the car was the man responsible for setting up a Faculty of Commerce at the University of Dar Es Salaam and a popular radio presenter; am talking about Prof. Joshua Mkhululi (Prof. Ken) and Baba T.

I remember we were looking for Mr. Imani Mani, a journalist with a leading media house in the country.

That day, we spent some good hours of the day in town, with every half-hour – we would stop and speak to countless individuals.

As the evening was approaching, we started driving back to Tegeta. But as we reached  Baba T’s residence, we couldn’t spend a minute because we had to go back to Mbezi Beach to meet another person. Professor grabbed just fruits and ordered us back to the car, and off we went.

The day is so memorable because, I absorbed a lot of information from the two men – whom were constantly talking and arguing about different topics, from cricket to reggae. They talked about Pan African ideology, they talked about Rastafari, they talked about helping kids going to school, and they talk and talk and talk…

The story that captured my attention was about the accountancy college in Arusha. Professor said almost everything that he knew. Any other person would have complained bitterly, but the man talked about it humbly.

The sun settled in west. As we were driving home, Professor started talking about the project (reggae music festival) that was in our hands. He analysed every bit of the project, my worry was that we going to forget most of it because we were not writing down the bits and factual info that was flowing from Professor’s mouth.

Well, when we sat down to continue with write up; the man didn’t miss a single word or number – and in a perfectly correct order.

It’s that ability and more that distinguished Prof. Mkhululi from many others. The man worked tirelessly, especially for this country.

“I man don’t feel no way. As long as it’s home and not foreign.” Professor did say regarding citizenship refusal.

Among many other contributions for this country, in the field of accountancy and sports. Professor was part of liberation struggles for southern Africa.

If there’s a man of highest intellectual ability, Professor is the one.

If there’s a man of a highest commitment, Professor can’t be compared.

If there’s a man of a highest compassion, Professor tops them all.

On the 18^th of March, will be seven years since Professor Ken went to Zion.

How is he remembered?

Biashara ya muziki: Kabla na Baada.

Biashara ya muziki.

Mwaka 2004 niliandika kitabu kuhusu biashara ya muziki. Kwa wakati huo kitabu hicho “Introduction To Music Business” kilishabihiana na mazingira ya wakati huo.

Miaka michache iliyopita, dunia ilitegemea mabadiliko makubwa kwenye biashara ya muziki kutokana na kuingia kwenye mfumo wa dijitali (digital). Upatikanaji wa bidhaa za muziki kupitia mtandao wa intaneti, ilikuwa furaha kwa mtumiaji. Na urahisi wa kupata wimbo mmoja badala ya kununua toleo lote la albamu fulani, na kwa gharama nafuu.

Katika suala la uchumi kwenye biashara ya muziki ni kipigo kwa msanii. Labda kwa wasanii wakubwa na wenye uwezo wa kulazimisha mkataba wenye makato ya juu.

Kwa uhalisia, kampuni ya uaandaji wa muziki ‘lebo’ – ni mwekezaji. Unapokuwapo mkataba; lebo inabeba gharama za kurekodi, kusambaza na kuitambulisha pia. Lebo inafanya hivyo kwa makubaliano ya makato kutoka kwenye mauzo.  Na huo ndio mfumo ulivyo, hadi tulipofikia mfumo wa kidijitali.

Irie Productions.

Irie Productions

Mwaka 2009, nilianza kutengeneza studio za Irie Productions, huku kwetu Tegeta. Hii ilikuwa miaka miwili baada ya projects tulizofanya tulipokuwa na akina Tony pale ActiveAudio - Manzese. Mwaka 2011 ndio nilifungua milango kwa jamii kuweza kurekodi kazi zao, wakati huo hakuna ala - zaidi ya Akai MPK61 na iMac. Tulitoa nafasi kwa wasanii wa hapa jirani na mazingira yetu; na jaribio hilo halikuwa na matunda. Maana wengi walihitaji hatua zaidi ya kurekodi tu. Walihitahi label na promosheni za redio.
Marafiki, ndugu na jamii ya wasanii; na kwa kiasi fulani wale waliopo kwenye fani ya habari. Walikuwa wananishauri na kuniambia kuwa nina msimamo usioeleweka - kwa nini nisifanye kwa kiwango kikubwa. (Nikafikiria - 'ukubwa wa pua sio wingi wa kamasi'). Wewe Gotta unafahamika, unaweza kufanya vitu kadhaa, unajuana na watu wengi. (Nikafikiria - 'sitaki wanijue mimi, lakini nataka wajue nini kitatoka Irie Productions').

Mwanzo wa kuvuma: Na Vitali Maembe.

Vuma!

Katikati ya mwezi Julai 2014 niliwasiliana na Vitali na akaniambia baada ya siku mbili atakuja studio, anazo nyimbo anataka kurekodi. Mimi nilimeza maneno yake kupitia masikio yangu, nikaendelea na shughuli za kawaida.
Baada ya siku mbili Maembe alinipigia simu kunieleza kuwa yupo njiani anakuja studio. Hadi muda huo nilikuwa sijajitayarisha kwa ujio wake. Haikuwa tatizo. Wakati natafakari nini kitafanyika, Nelly akanipigia simu kunieleza kuwa anakuja studio. Ilikuwa afadhali sana maana wiki hiyo nilimtegemea Nuru atakuwapo studio kwa kadhaa zilizokuwapo kipindi hicho. Na mimi niliwasiliana na 'Mugabe' (aka Sindimba Tete) tuweze kupata uwepo wake pia.
Kwenye muda wa saa tano, Maembe alifika na vijana wake wawili - Hussein na mwingine yule anapiga ngoma. Nakumbuka hatua za mwanzo za 'kuvumisha' zilianza kwa ushiriki wangu kidogo baada ya hapo Nelly aliendelea.

VIDEO: ARARE - ブランニュウ feat. J-REXXX × SILENT KITTO