Tanzanians love their music, but are denied!

We seem to have totally abandoned efforts that were there in the 1960s and 70s, when Tanzanians strived to reinvent themselves and discard undesirable cultural traits that were a consequence of close to a century of colonial bondage.
There is no area where this is more brazenly displayed than in entertainment. There is little regard Tanzanian music and dances, which is a shame. Our country is blessed with a diversity of peoples – around 120 ethnic groups – each with rich cultural heritage that our artistes could base their creative energies.
We don’t care for these anymore. Instead, our musicians, go to great lengths to “copy and paste” foreign beats, fronting them as Tanzanian, simply because the lyrics are in Kiswahili.
The excuse from the artistes, producers and promoters is that they offer what the people want. But it is not true that Tanzanians are not keen on music that is traditional, ostensibly because it “doesn’t sell”.
Our artistes are simply not giving it to them, being as they are victims of Western cultural machinations. And, we aver, laziness. They want quick results, so the thinking is: if there are ready-made beats, why sit down and create original hits based on our own heritage?
Now the enthusiasm that greeted last Friday’s show at the Russian Cultural Centre, organised by Focus on Me, rubbishes the notion that Tanzanians aren’t keen on their traditional dances and music. It was a full house affair, with frenzied audience crying for more throughout.  
Let that be a lesson to local players in the entertainment industry, including TV and radio stations. Tanzanians are keen on their own beat and song; compose it, promote it and give it to them.
Let us have Bongo Flava alright, but derive it from our own beats and rhythms. Slavish copycatting and blind copycatting at the expense of our own cultural roots is a big shame!
http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/editorial-analysis/-/28291-tanzanians-love-their-music-but-are-denied