Music of Tanzania

The music of Tanzania stretches from traditional African music to the string-based taarab to a distinctive hip hop known as bongo flava.

The Tanzanian national anthem is Mungu Ibariki Africa (God Bless Africa), composed by South African composer Enoch Sontonga in 1897. The tune was ANC's official song and later became the National Anthem of South Africa. The song is also the national anthem Zambia. Swahili lyrics were set to this tune.

The music industry in Tanzania has seen many changes in the past ten years. With a mix of influences from other countries along with the original feel of local musical traditions, Tanzanian musicians have become some of the best artists in East Africa. From artists such as Dionys Mbilinyi, Sabinus Komba and many others, to new artists in R&B, pop, Zouk, Taarab and dance music.

Art musicians include:

The Tanzanian artistes have devised a new style going by the name of "Bongo Flava", which is a blend of all sorts of melodies, beats, rhythms and sounds. The trend among the Tanzanian music consumers has started changing towards favouring products from their local artists who sing in Swahili, the national language.

Among prominent Bongo Flava music producers include Joachim Kimario aka Master J and Northern Tanzania-based John Blass aka John B. Others include Marco Chali, Dully Sykes, P-Funk Majani, Marlon Linje and Baucha. The recent years have seen a good number of Tanzanian Musicians growing to capture international arena. One of the prominent musician is Diamond Platnumz as well Elisha Hisia Simon who have made it to establish a quarterly Hisia Music festival being held in different venues between Arusha and Dar es salaam.Hisia,

Tanzania has a large number of traditional instruments, many of which are specific to particular ethnic groups. The Zaramo people, for instance, perform traditional dance melodies such as "Mitamba Yalagala Kumchuzi" on tuned goblet drums, tuned cylindrical drums, and tin rattles.

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