As it is in other countries, the music in Tanzania is constantly undergoing changes, and varies by location, people, settings and occasion. The five music genres in Tanzania, as defined by BASATA are, ngoma, dansi, kwaya, and taarab, with bongo flava being added in 2001. Singeli has since the mid-2000ss been an unofficial music of uswahilini, unplanned communities in Dar es Salaam, and is the newest mainstream genre since 2020.
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 there has been limited use of words from Nigerian languages due to the influence of afrobeats.
Tanzanian Hip-hop, which is sometimes called Bongo Flava by many outside of Tanzania's hip hop community, encompasses a large variety of different sounds, but it is particularly known for heavy synth riffs and an incorporation of Tanzanian pop. There is some debate over whether Bongo Flava, which has emerged as a defined pop movement, can really still be qualified under the overarching term "hip hop" and not a movement unto itself, when it is beginning to develop a distinctive sound that differs from hardcore rap or, for example, the Maasai Hip hop of X Plastaz, who use the tradition of the Maasai tribe as the focal point for their sound and style. Tanzanian hip hop influenced the sound of the Bongo Flava genre. While Tanzanian hip hop retains many of the elements found in hip hop globally in terms of sound and lyricism, Bongo flava, derived from the Swahili word "ubongo", incorporates hip hop, Indian filmi, taraab, muzik wa dansi, and dancehall beats. It all began in the 1980s when Tanzanian teenagers were really interested in the American hip hop scene. At first, they took American beats and rapped to them. As the youth rapped, the hip hop in Tanzania began to develop into a mix of traditional and localized hip hop scene. As a result, it began a wave of interest from other people in Eastern Africa.
Joseph Haule, popularly known by his stage name Professor Jay, is a Tanzanian rapper, songwriter, politician and former member of the Tanzanian parliament for Mikumi constituency. He is one of the prominent representatives of the "Bongo Flava" Tanzanian hip hop subgenre, which mixes elements from both Western hip hop and the Tanzanian tradition.
Wema Sepetu is a Tanzanian actress and beauty contestant who won the Miss Tanzania contest in 2006 Miss Tanzania. She represented Tanzania in Miss World 2006, which was held in Poland. She later became an actress in Tanzania.
Jerry Boniface known by the alias Mesen Selekta, known by his stage name Mesen, is a Tanzanian record producer,Film director, rapper and entrepreneur. He is the founder and current CEO of De Fatality International. Mesen Selekta is the founder and member of the music group Black & White. He has produced albums for and overseen the careers of many rappers, including Joh Makini, Nikki wa pili, Izzo Biznes, Pah One, G nako, Nakaaya, Roma and Country Boi. He is credited as a key figure in the popularization of English rap in Tanzania, which is a Swahili speaking nation.
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.
Golden Jacob Mbunda , known by his stage name Godzilla, was a Tanzanian recording artist, singer and songwriter.
Elizabeth Michael(Lulu) (born April 16, 1995) is a Tanzanian actress. In 2013, she won the Zanzibar International Film Festival award for Best Actress for "Woman Of Principles". She also won 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards for Best Movie Eastern Africa. In August 2017, Africa Youth Awards named her among the 100 Most Influential Young Africans. In November 2017, she was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the 2012 death of Steven Kanumba and sentenced to two years in prison. On April 26, 2018, on Tanzanian Union celebration, she was among of the prisoners who were pardoned by President John Pombe Magufuli where her sentence was reduced. She was later released on May 9, 2018 after serving six months in prison to do community services for the remaining time after showing good behavior while she was in prison. On 12 November 2018 she completed her probation.
Rajab Abdul Kahali, also known by his stage name Harmonize, is a Tanzanian Bongo Flava artist and music entrepreneur born in Mtwara Region.
Foolish Age is a Tanzanian drama film released in 2013. It was produced by Elizabeth Michael. The film explores adverse and destructive influences faced by teenagers.
Wasafi Classic Baby (WCB) is a Tanzania-based record label founded by Tanzanian musician Diamond Platnumz.
Zuhura Othman Soud, better known by her stage name Zuchu, is a Tanzanian singer and songwriter born in Zanzibar. She is based in Dar es Salaam and signed to WCB Wasafi record label. She was awarded the Silver Plaque Button by YouTube for hitting 100,000 subscribers within a week. She became the first East African female artist to reach that milestone within a week. She also became the first East African female artist to reach 1 million subscribers on YouTube 11 months later. In 2020 Zuchu was named by AFRIMMA as the winner of the Emerging Artist Award.
Mbwana Yusuf Kilungi, better known by his stage name Mbosso Khan is a Tanzanian singer and songwriter born in Kibiti, Pwani Region, he is currently based in Dar es Salaam and signed under WCB Wasafi record label. Mbosso is known for his songs "Nadekezwa" and "Hodari" which won Video of the Year at HiPipo Awards 2019. Mbosso released his debut studio album, Definition of Love, in March 2021.
Nyamari Ongegu known professionally as Nyashinski is a Kenyan rapper and songwriter. He is a co-founding member of a hip hop trio Kleptomaniax.
Albert Keneth Mangweha who used aliases; Ngwair, Mangwea, Mangwair, and Ngwea was a Tanzanian hip hop artist predominantly known for his freestyle punchlines and hardcore rap style.
Shariff Thabit Ramadhan, better known by his stage name Darassa is a Tanzanian rapper, recognized for his 2016 hit song 'Muziki', featuring Ben Pol.
Romeo George alias RJ The DJ and Romy Jon(e)s is a Tanzanian DJ, record producer and television actor.
Salmin Ismail Hoza, professionally known by his stage name Kusah, is a Tanzanian musician, singer and songwriter. He started getting attention as a songwriter but later rose to stardom after releasing songs such as Kelele, No Time, I Don't Care and I Wish which made him a household name in Tanzania.
John Simon Mseke, popularly known by his stage name Joh Makini, is a Tanzanian rapper, songwriter and composer. He is one of the members of the Tanzanian Hip Hop group called Weusi and also the founder and CEO of his record label, Makini Music. Joh Makini is from Arusha Tanzania and is one of the most celebrated rappers in the country.
