Bongo Flava is a nickname for Tanzanian music. The genre developed in the 1990s, mainly as a derivative of American hip hop and traditional Tanzanian styles such as taarab and dansi, with additional influences from reggae, R&B, and afrobeats, to form a unique style of music. Lyrics are usually in Swahili or English, although increasingly from mid 2000s there has been limited use of words from Sub-Saharan African music traditions due to the influence of Afrobeats and Kwaito with their dynamics usage of West African Pidgin English, Nigerian Pidgin or other Creole language.
Zoya Akhtar is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works in Hindi cinema. Born to Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani, she completed a diploma in filmmaking from NYU and assisted directors Mira Nair, Tony Gerber and Dev Benegal, before becoming an independent writer and director. She is the recipient of several accolades, including four Filmfare Awards. Akhtar, along with Reema Kagti, founded Tiger Baby Films, a film and web studio in October 2015.
Lupita Amondi Nyong'o is a Kenyan-Mexican actress. She is the recipient of several accolades, including an Academy Award and a Daytime Emmy Award with nominations for a Tony Award and a Golden Globe Award.
Ahmed Olotu popularly known as Mzee Chillo is a Tanzanian veteran actor. He has starred in over 100 movies in his film career. He has been featured in both regional and international films making him among the greatest Tanzanian actors of all time. He has starred in movies with big names on the African film industry including Steven Kanumba, African stars Nkiru Sylvanus, Emmanuel France and Mercy Johnson.
Emmanuel Mkono, known by his stage name Nahreel, is a Tanzanian Afro beats / Dancehall recording artist and record producer.
Naseeb Abdul Juma Issack, professionally known as Diamond Platnumz, is a Tanzanian bongo flava recording artist, dancer, philanthropist and businessman. He is the founder and CEO of WCB Wasafi Record Label, Wasafi Bet and Wasafi Media. Diamond has gained a massive following in East and Central Africa. He became the first Africa-based artist to reach 900 million views on YouTube.
Vanessa Hau Mdee, is a Tanzanian singer, rapper, television personality and radio host. Mdee is popularly known for being the first ever Tanzanian MTV VJ. She later rose to prominence as a radio and TV host, hosting Epic Bongo Star Search and Dume Challenge for ITV Tanzania before signing to B'Hits Music Group in late 2012.
Zena Yusuf Mohammed, known by her stage name Shilole, is a Tanzanian musician and actress. She specializes in R&B, Zouk, and new generation Tanzania music popularly known as Bongo Fleva. Shilole is considered one of the top female artists in Tanzania; her works has been nominated 3 times in KTMA, Tanzania's top music awards. She has also recorded with a number of artists including Mr Camera and Selebobo (Nigeria). Shilole is considered as one of the most influential artist among her fans and is said to be the most loved female artist in Tanzania, the first female artist in Tanzania to clock 1 million followers in Instagram, Tanzania's most popular social network... Shilole is credited as one of the key figures in the popularization of Tanzania's new music genre Bongo Flava, as a career to upcoming female artists.
Elizabeth Michael(Lulu) (born April 16, 1995) is a Tanzanian actress.
Caila Marsai Martin is an American actress and producer, best known for her role as Diane Johnson on the ABC sitcom Black-ish (2014–2022).
Yvonne Cherrie is a Tanzanian actress. In 2010 she won Zanzibar International Film Festival for the 'Best Actress' award. She was also nominated for 2011 Nigeria Entertainment Awards for Pan African Actress Of The Year. She is cited as one of the best actresses and pioneers in the movie industry of Tanzania. She is also the founder of Act With Monalisa foundation which focus on to mentor and support young Tanzanian women with acting career guidance and a platform to showcase their talents and Director of African Women Arts and Film Festival (AWAFFEST).
Tanzania's film industry, also known as Swahiliwood or Bongo movie and Bongowood, was established around 2001.
Faustina Charles Mfinanga, popularly known by her stage name Nandy is a Tanzanian singer, songwriter, and actress. She was born and raised in the town of Moshi, Tanzania in the Kilimanjaro Region. She won the All Africa Music Awards twice in the best female artist in East Africa category in 2017 and 2020.
Abdulazizi Abubakari Chende (Dogo Janja), (born September 15 1994), is a Tanzanian singer-songwriter and rapper. He was born in Arusha and raised in Ngarenaro ward in the city of Arusha located in the Arusha Region. He is currently based in Dar es Salaam.
Irene Pancras Uwoya, is a Tanzanian actress, producer and entrepreneur she is best known for her career name Irene Uwoya and for her movie role Oprah. Beginning her professional career in 2007 along with others bongo movie actors such as Vincent Kigosi, Steven Kanumba and many more.
Jacqueline Wolper Massawe, is a Tanzanian actress, businesswoman and fashion stylist. Wolper began her film career in 2007 and being featured in more than 30 films since her debut in the industry.
The African Princess is the first studio album from Tanzanian singer Nandy. It was released on November 9, 2018, by Epic Records. The album was launched in Nairobi, Kenya, and was sponsored by Tanzanian telecommunications company Halotel. She made her entrance into the album launch with best friend Willy Paul on her side.
Gift Stanford Joshua known by her stage name Gigy Money is a Tanzanian singer, and internet personality. Gigy became a household after releasing Papa, a Bongo Flava song written by Marioo in 2017. Throughout her music career, Gigy Money has worked with different music heavyweights including Whozu, Tamimu, Rosa Ree, Lava Lava and more.
Marianne Namshali Mdee popularly known by her stage name Mimi Mars is a Tanzanian singer, actress and media personality.
Sarah Michael Kitinga is a Tanzanian singer and songwriter. Her songs such as Rara, Superwoman, Manu, Sponsor, Sisi Ndo Wale and Upo Nyonyo which was placed number 62 by Nigerian music website NotJustOk on their list of the best Tanzanian songs of the decade ranging from 2012 to 2022, made her household name in Tanzania. Throughout her career Phina has collaborated with different music heavyweights including Jux, Otile Brown, Jay Melody and Ruby.
