Mchiriku music

Mchiriku music

What is Mchiriku Music?

Is a music genre that originated in the coastal area of Tanzania in the early 1980s to mid-1985 when Tanzania was transitioning to capitalism. The genre is also known as Mnanda and it is officially recognized by the Tanzania National Council Of Arts famously known as BASATA.

It is very popular among Tanzanian local dwellers, especially in slum areas famously known as "Uswahilini" and like the Singeli genre, most Mchiriku artists come from the streets and they usually use their artistry to explain and comment on social issues that in many cases resonate with the locals.

Mchiriku is usually made up of Uptempo beats and usually uses different types of instruments such as Pianos, Drums, Soda Bottles and in many cases local drumsticks that are usually hit on any flat surface such as tables, chairs and benches to produce a bumpy danceable beat that is commonly heard in wedding ceremonies, local baby showers and many other local celebrations.

Like Hip Hop, originally Mchiriku was said to appeal to the male demographic and was considered a shabby type of music but as years went on, the genre manipulated its sound to fit the female population and it is no longer associated with thuggish or mobster lifestyle.

Unlike Bongo Fleva, Hip Hop or R&B genres that have been imported as a result of Western interaction, Mnanda stands to be one of the few genres in the Tanzanian music scene that originated in Tanzania.

Origin

The history of the genre can be traced back to the 1980s when Bands like Hisan Gari Kubwa which is cited as one of the pioneers of Mchiriku in Tanzania started to emerge. The band became very popular as it produced many hit songs including "Madawa Ya Kulevya", "Salima" and "Siku Ya Hukumu" which were released in 2003.

Years later some members of the band outgrew Hisan Gari Kubwa and formed their own bands such as Jagwa, Cha Ukucha, and Bendi Ya Mbao which is based in Tegeta Dar Es Salaam and many other bands. Many of the bands later disbanded due to financial difficulties caused by a lack of sponsors.

Wanyamwezi Family Forever is also considered one of the pioneers of Mchiriku. The band which contains 10 members started in the year 1989 after some members of the Hasan Gari Kubwa left to start their own band. The band is still active and it is now based in Bagamoyo, Pwani Region since the debut 7 Studio albums have been released so far.

Jagwa Music is often mentioned as one of the most successful bands in the history of Mnanda whereas the band which is composed of up to 15 people has been at the forefront of taking the genre international despite getting zero attention from the Tanzanian media. In 2016 Jagwa Music was called to perform in the United States for the third season of the Centre stage program. The group has also performed on many stages in the world such as WOMAD In Australia, Music Box in Lisbon and even Rainforest World Music Festival in Malaysia.

Who Are The Popular Mchiriku Artists?

Popular acts in this genre include Wanyamwezi Family Forever, Jagwa Music Band, Nisan Gari Kubwa, UBT Mchiriku Band, Omary Omary, Mataluma, Mkama Sharp and many others.

What Are Some Of The Biggest And Popular Songs In This Genre?

1. Segere Shabani Madobe
2. Kariakoo - Mataluma
3. Salima - Hisan Gari Kubwa
4. Maji Hayapandi Mlima - Jagwa Music
5. Dada Anaolewa - Young Dee
6. Show Love - UBT Mchiriku Band
7. Kulusumu - Jagwa Music
8. Kichuna - UBT Band
9. Madawa Ya Kulevya - Hisan Gari Kubwa
10. Mungo - Gari Kubwa

How to listen and download this music on Mdundo.com

Mchiriku music is available for free download and streaming on mdundo.com. To listen to this genre on Mdundo, visit mdundo.com and search for Mchiriku music.

A catalogue of available songs from top artists under this category will then be provided for you to select the ones you want. You can download/listen to music on Mdundo through your phone, laptop, or any other device that can access the internet.