#MusicWeDeyFeel: All-time Favorites, including these from Alikiba

By -

Today of all days, I am missing Tanzania. Because 12 years ago around this time, I was in Bongo land. I really loved being there. Hamis Ambwene Massawe too. Ndio. Before I ever visited Tanzania, I knew a lot about Alikiba. I had seen him perform in Oakland, Califorinia while I was still at Stanford. Before that day which I met my second girlfriend - Titi (She's Nigerian, not Tanzanian) - I knew a lot of Alikiba songs. And it is not just because of Museke. I liked music made by 
I hope you would love his craft more after reading this blog post. 

I am sure you know Kiswahili is the official language of Tanzania. Hapana? Kabisa? I learnt how to speak Swahili from some East African friends. I took 2 Swahili classes while at Stanford, which is the period I really started loving more music from Bongo. Bonga Flava has many flavours. Ali Saleh Kiba has his own flavour. Alikiba was such a pleasant guy when I met him. He likes to sing about love songs. Titi was right there, also trying to ahush Alikiba. The rest, they say is history. Now, on to the music :-)

Msiniseme - 2009

Ali Kiba once sang sang "Msiniseme kama napenda kula" but feel free to broadcast that me, I love food. I love food. When I was in Tanzania, I was introduce to "kiti moto". Nyamachoma has hype, but kiti moto is the real deal. Yes it is.


You were watching the video, and asking yourself, where is the food in the video? Hmmm, I don't know why it took a couple of minutes. Bongo flava. Mimi is the not the name of a lady. It means me. Me, I love food. Napenda Kula.

Cinderella - 2007
Cinderella has been sung about from Ghana to the USA to far away places on earth. Alikiba gave us this classic many years ago. It is also great to listen to this song and understand the lyrics. Aitwa Cinderella, rudi home wewe, rudi nyumbani. Tanzania is calling Hamis (me) to come home.

The video is lovely, isn't it? Ali Kiba is the love doctor of East Africa. Even over Diamond. Local champion, not as international as the other guy. I can't wait to say "Mimi, leo, niko Dar" while in Dar Es
Salaam. Beautiful song.

Mac Muga - 2007

One of those sorrowful type songs that you still love to sing along to. He mentions Africa :-) And the world, dunia. As well as South Africa. Hmmm. Watch the video to see if you understand what is going on.


The song talks about the struggles of a man named Mac Muga who was once successful. South Africa is a place Africans go for greener pastures o. You didn't know? Take it as an inspirational song too. The current storm would not last. Yes, Ali Kiba had made me a motivational speaker. How do you laugh in Swahili please? It's no laughing matter? I am sorry. Build your vim, and make great things happen for you. You do not need motivational speakers. 

Honorable Mentions: Mac Muga, Seduce Me, Msela, Mnyama, Mama, So Hot, Aje, Dushelele, Songi Songi, Mahaba, On Fire, etc

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Learnt how to say "Thank You" in 23 African languages

By -
Today, I learnt how to say "Thank You" in yet another African language. So let me take a stab at seeing if I can say "Merci" in 23 African languages. And let's share some small attendant info. :-) Akan: Medaase . What you thought I wouldn't add my mother tongue? Some folks can't say what "thank you" is in their lingua francas. Such a fracas. Don't belittle this at all at all. Ga: Oyiwaladonn . I don't remember when I learnt this but I do know I learnt to say "Nnuu Ga" (I can't speak Ga) during the time I came to Accra to represent KNUST JSS in Kiddie Quiz and me and my Kumasi-living mates were testing our Ga knowledge. Ewe: Akpe . I love saying "Akpe kakaa" and I am not sure why. Dagbani: Ti pagi da . Yeap, Jemila Abdulai taught me this one. Thrice. You can also say Mpagya . Hausa: Na gode . I should have known this a long time ago but thanks to Manre Chirtau, I will not forget this one. Ever. Alafia lo! S
Read more

Introducing REACH-Ghana on the occasion of World AIDS day

By -
Image
I was notified about the website for REACH-Ghana today and I must say I am impressed with how far this organization has come in the last 4 months following BarCamp Diaspora at JHU-SAIS in Washington, DC. A few young passionate Ghanaians with interest in the health sector came together after a healthcare breakout session during July's BarCamp Diaspora and started investigating how they could contribute to Ghana's health sector. Their enthusiasm has given birth to Representatives for Equal Access to Community Health-care (Ghana). I love the use of the Adinkra symbol in the REACH logo. After my previous experience with Kasahorow, Museke & GhanaThink, I am a big fan of incorporating Ghanaian symbols in every way. REACH's logo uses the Adinkra symbol "Boa Me Na Menboa Wo" (Help me to help you), which represents cooperation, interdependence and community. You can see the tenets of REACH's vision in this symbol and the name itself. The symbol embodies the organ
Read more

Learnt how to say "Happy birthday" in 13 African languages

By -
Today is my birthday. For all of you who've been wishing me Happy Birthday, I will like to say Thank you in these 23+ African languages and in these 16+ non-African languages . I asked my friends for how to say Happy Birthday in African languages. Some exist. Now you can wish birthday celebrants in an African language. With some help from  my African friends , we have a list to work with. I wish I could get to 30 but I've tried ahh.  Akan: Mema wo awoda pa. Mema wo awoda mu anigye.    You have another version? Add it in a comment. :-) The +kasahorow  gurus like  +Paa Kwesi  taught me this. Ga: Afi o afi.  You have a better way to say it, Let's hear it. Otherwise, this from +Naa Oyoo Quartey  & Naa adjeley hold. Ewe: Dzigbeza bÉ”kɔɔ nawo!  h +Enock Seth Nyamador  of  +Planning Wikimedia Ghana  wished me this via Twitter today. So I didn't even have to ask gurus like +Seyram Freddy Ahiabor  &  +Doris Anson-Yevu  yet :-) Swahili: Siku ya ulizaliwa njema.  
Read more