Ray C – She’s….well…….Racy!

Written by Shirlene Alusa-Brown | September 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Ray-C, born Rehema Chalamila, is at the top of the list for ummm….some pretty interesting music videos. She has more wiggles in her moves than Shakira and Beyonce combined, and she looks good doing it. That could be due to the fact that she took belly dancing lessons (which she must have done really well in).

Ray-C worked as a DJ on a show, Dr. Beat, for Clouds FM Radio station in Tanzania and took vocal training lessons. The only musician to perform Bongo, Bhangra, Taarab and R&B in one album, she is affectionately known as Tanzania’s beauty queen. To date she has released three albums, Mapenzi Yangu (My Love), Na Wewe Milele (With You Forever) in 2004, and Ray-C. All albums have gone platinum. » Read more…

Tags: , Bhangra, Bongo, DGrilty, Kilimanjaro Music Award, Kisima Music Award, R&B, Ray-C, RF Chord, taarab, Temba, TMK Wanaume

As Old As My Tongue

Written by Shirlene Alusa-Brown | April 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment

This is a documentary of a living legend, Bi Kidude, who is probably the oldest singer on the world stage today. She sings the traditional Taarab and Unyago music and is very popular internationally.

Bi Kidude was born at least ninety years ago (she isn’t sure what year she was born and estimates she could be as old as 113) and lives in Zanzibar, a strongly Muslim island. She has been the center of controversy for her constant challenges to traditional Muslim values for women. » Read more…

Tags: , , As Old as my tongue, Bi Kidude, swahili, taarab, unyago, Zanzibar