Mzungu Kichaa

new video: http://www.mzungukichaa.com/video.html

Mzungu Kichaa means ‘the crazy white man’. Crazy because the Danish born singer flows in fluent Kiswahili. Despite his Danish background Mzungu Kichaa is praised, accepted and recognised as one of the pioneers of the powerful youth music of East Africa, Bongo Flava. He recorded with celebrated artists such as Juma Nature, TID, Mangwair, and Ferooz in the late 90s at Bongo Records [Tanzania]. With the release of Mambo ya pwani he topped the East Africa charts in 2001. This song was one of the first songs to take traditional Tanzanian music and fuse it with hip-hop.

Kichaa released his debut album Tuko Pamoja in May 2009; ten original and inspiring songs that speak out about political injustice, poverty, inequality and ways in which we can unite for a better world, including the single Jitolee featuring Prof. Jay and Mwasiti. The album was nominated Best World Album at the Danish World Music Awards, while the music video Jitolee took the African continent by storm. In addition he won Best Upcoming Artist at the African Achievement Awards, in Copenhagen.

Kichaa’s interest for African music started at the early age of six, when his family moved to Zambia. He would soon learn to play traditional Tonga drums with his friends at local weddings. His enthusiasm for learning local music traditions gradually transformed his life story to one that does not lend itself to easy conclusions. He strongly believes music is the key to build bridges between cultures and people, and has managed to live up to this belief through his own complex identity and musical voyage.

The artist’s unique guitar and clean vocals coupled with the upbeat sound of his Tanzanian band Bongo Beat brought new life to the Sauti za Busara Music Festival in February 2010. This was the first of many dynamic performances long awaited for from his fans who’ve endorsed Kichaa to perform and feature throughout East Africa, on Radio and TV, where many of his concerts have been sold out. Subsequently he and his band completed a successful tour in Denmark including appearances on National TV, Newspapers and Radio.

In 2010 Kichaa was selected as a jury for the Danish World Music Awards and as one of three judges for the biggest televised music talent show in Tanzania Bongo Star Search. He recently featured in a Danish documentary series, Black Business, portraying and supporting the music industry in Tanzania and also advocated a Tanzanian maternity project by welcoming artists from New York to work with Tanzanian artist, such as Lady JD and Fid Q; creating a platform to record and perform resulting in a concert series called Bongo Flava meets Brooklyn Flava.

As an ambassador of Tanzanian contemporary music and the founder of the independent label Caravan Records, Mzungu Kichaa aims to empower Tanzanian musicians to make Bongo Flava available outside of East Africa: ‘There is so much talent out there that can open our minds and expand our horizons’.

Mzungu Kichaa is currently working on his second album anticipated to be launched in May 2012. He holds a BA in Ethnomusicology and a Masters in African Studies [SOAS, UK].

www.mzungukichaa.com


BAND MEMBERS

1. Mzungu Kichaa - Lead Vocals and Lead Guitar
2. Kevin Micheal Mpangala [Sam] - Bass
3. Abdallah Membe [Kikombe] - Drums / Backing Vocals
4. Shabani Rashid [Mugado] - Keyboard and vocals
5. Emmanuel Abraham Mwandemelela [mopao] - guitar