DICOTA officials,
I would like to commend your efforts on putting together the event to mark 50 years of Tanzania’s Independence.
In this day and age where our country is going through various crises including severe corruption,water and energy deficiencies, poor standards of living, leadership and political conflicts and so forth; we need a new and improved system.
I therefore strongly support your network effort linking fellow Tanzanians living in the US to the ones back in Tanzania.
I was happy; yet, saddened to see that DICOTA is hosting and possibly paying for a Kilimanjaro Band (Wananjenje), Jahazi Modern Taarab and King Kiki for music entertainment at the event and disregarding the fact that there are Tanzanian artists in the diaspora community. We have mainstream and non-mainstream Tanzanian artist living in the USA.
The general expectation would be to involve and support these artists,whose works are hereby showcased and incorporated into today’s entertainment and culture.
Not to challenge or downplay your current guest musicians, but their music is not that popular or as receptive to listeners in the diaspora community compared to music by some Bongo-Flava artists.
Most will argue that in the 21st century the world is moving in a very fast economic and social pace. Instead of old-fashioned, traditional mentalities and stagnant ideologies, the community could benefit more from innovative, diverse leadership. We need to keep up.
This kind of leadership is what we are trying to change in Tanzania.
Most will agree that this is the type of leadership that only focuses on self-interest and personal gain. It should be remembered that one key campaign strategy for CCM and JK’s presidential campaign (the ruling party and current president) was to campaign with the kind of artists
DICOTA left out.
By ignoring these talented artists who have been representing the Republic of Tanzania by taking part in cultural festivities amongst other events in the United States; it’s fair to question the blatant discrimination against fellow musicians and lack of diversity or acknowledgement of the hard work of community members.
Based on the upcoming event,DICOTA has demonstrated a lack of insight as to what transpires between Tanzanians living in the US and those back in Tanzania.
I recommend that, prior to assuming leadership duties as members of the diaspora community; DICOTA officials should meet and exceed minimum qualifications of frequently visiting the country they are representing to update their knowledge of the current situation rather than depending on Michuzi and other blogs. Today, it’s about inviting music artists but tomorrow might be choosing a president.
Albino Fulani
sawa sawa babu...watu wamekaa marekani miaka kibao hawajui nini kinaendelea halafu wanapewa ku organise vitu kama hivi vya kitanzania
ReplyDelete.... and it took one person to save the day!! 110% agreed Albino!!
ReplyDeleteWeeeeeeeeeeell Said Kabisa!!!!!! Wanataka kuzeeka na Vijana hawa!!!
ReplyDeleteDICOTA kweli mmewezwa!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Diaspora idea is great but how its being used is questionable. I totally agree with what you have said, I felt the same way, I'm an artist as well, the Diaspora should have involved artists, designers and entertainers who are Tanzanians and live in the USA first and I'm sure they would have done it for free just to show case their talents, But by ignoring the talent of Tanzanians who live in the US or by making them pay to bring other talents from Tanzania, shows a mismanagement of funds on the Diaspora side and disrespect to their talents, how can we trust the Diaspora if it fails to recognize the talent of many Tanzanians among us?, we have great musicians, great clothes designers etc, to me it looks like the system is still the same, its who you know and not what you know, The Diaspora management team has to remember its built by Tanzanians who live here and these are the people who help to pay the dues. ITS TIME TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND NOT HATE ON ONE ANOTHER, MY TALENT IS APPRECIATED MORE BY NON TANZANIANS THAN TANZANIANS, AND WHY IS THAT?????????????
ReplyDeleteDear Albino Fulani, as a musician I highly respect your work, as do the rest of the members of the Kilimanjaro Band.As a member of the Kilimanjaro Band which will not be attending the occassion as the Embassy has not been able to raise enough funds for us to be there, I am greatly disappointed on your attitude towards other musicians. The Kilimanjaro Band has been in existence for the past 38 years, and has been one of the top bands in Tanzania for most of that time we are saddened by your disrespect for that long experience. But we sincerely wish you all the best in your musical life.
ReplyDeleteJohn F Kitime
Albino I hear your cry but umechemka on presentation! your article doesn't have substance; ujumbe haujafika. (This is just my opinion, as a reader)
ReplyDeleteBeep tena! coz i feel your cry but you didn't do justice to yourself on presenting it.
Why cant you be blunt and say DICOTA snubbed the hip-hop(bongo flavor) demographic?
Mdau NY.
Albino Fulani inabidi ukue kidogo. Why did you wait until the last minute to bring your ides/suggestions. Tuache jamani tabia ya kulalamika na kulaumu, tuache kusubiri mpaka mambo yaende isivyo ndivyo ndio tuanze kulalama, tujitokeze kutoa mawazo yetu ya kuboresha mapema kabisa. Pamoja tutajenga.
ReplyDelete@John Kitime: Like
ReplyDeleteMdau sasa nimekualewa. Lakini Mdau ikiwa kila mwanamuziki wa kidiaspora akialikwa si watakuwa wengi namna hiyo? Nafikiri usilaumu sana viongozi maana wamejitahidi kwa kuchagua wale wanahisi ni wazuri na watawafurahisha wengi ambao umri wao ni mkubwa. "If you make it at Bongo, you can make it anywhere". Sifikiri kama kuna mtu angependa kumsikiliza "FFU ughaibuni"!!
ReplyDeletewabongo sikuzote na milele watakuwa wabongo tu ! chuki , masifa , ubinafsi kila kitu ndo nyie. njaa tu ndo zina wasumbua. mimi nimesha kuwa kwenye hayo ma group ma group ya wabongo sijuhi na mikutano yao , akuna cha maendeleo , kila mtu hatajifanya yeye ndo anajua. wabongo jamani tupendane tutaishi hivyo adi lini.
ReplyDeleteINGEKUWA KI BONGO BONGO , WATU WASINGE LALAMIKA HATA KWENYE MA BLOG , WANGEPELEKA MALALAMIKO YAO KWA KALUMANZILA. UZURI WA ULAYA WAKINA KALUMAZILA WANA BEI SANA. MTU ANAONA BORA AKALIE KWENYE BLOG YA KAKA MICHUZI BURE TU. WEWE UNACHEZA NA WABONGO NINI ,WANGESHA MGEUZA MTU NJIWA LONGTIME.
ReplyDeleteMDAU TEXAS AKA KWA BUSH SENIOR & JUNIOR
Mr.Kitime nadhani hakuna disrespect hapo ni masuala ya ufahamu. Kilimanjaro wapo, walikuwepo na wataendelea kuwepo, na kwa kwelihakuna mtanzania nikiwa mmoja wa family Njenje asiyejua ubora na uzuri na utamu wa kazi zenu, lkn sio mbaya kama alivyosema kutumia artists wapya waishio marekani na wao japo wakapata kuonekana au kujulikana.
ReplyDeleteNilikuwa nadhani Albino Fulani ni mtu mjanja kumbe ni mtoto hivi!Wenzako huwa wanakuwa "Proactive".Kufanikiwa kwenye biashara ya entertainment ni pamoja na kujitafutia nafasi za ku-perform kwenye shughuli mbalimbali and self-branding.Kwa hiyo next time ukiona opportunity ambayo unaweza kuitumia wewe piga simu na uulizie uone kama unaweza ku-perform.Inawezekana kulikuwa na nafasi ya wewe ku-perform na kulipwa...ha ha ha...lakini wewe unasubiri muda uende halafu ulalamike.What an attitude!Sasa wewe una exposure una-act hivyo,je hao wana-bongofleva ambao hawana hiyo exposure kidogo inakuwaje?
ReplyDeletePoor Albino Fulani seeking cheap popularity!
Kitime inabidi aelewe kuwa argument nikuchangaya wasanii mbalimbali... na nikweli hzi bendi ziko popular huko huko bongo.... huku ni bongo flava zaidi
ReplyDeleteI'd like to comment on this if I may. I think Albino Fulani has a valid point being that he is one of the diaspora artist and a fellow Tanzanian. Furthermore, at his position as an artist, Albino is trying to figure out as to how do you organize an event that you dare calling it "diaspora" and at the same time dissing the diaspora artists who are a few miles away from your back yard? How wrong can he be by questioning that? So all you people who are uncomfortable with his views should stop and go find something to do. He is only seeking answers.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, DICOTA may have valid reasons as to why they chose to invite artists from bongo. At the same token, as a Tanzanian and as an artist, Albino Fulani is in the position to question and demand his questions or concerns be addressed. You can't just stand idle by holding you feeling inside--Tanzanians we have to learn how to speak up!!.
Now let's look at what really he is concerned about. His main issue with this whole thing is that how come none of diaspora artists were invited to perform? How come DICOTA spent a lot of money (not sure if they paid or not) to bring artists from bongo while DIASPORA already has artists right here? These are valind concerns in my views. It's one thing if the mentioned artists from nyumbani volunteered to come and entertain for free, but it's whole another issue if they were paid to come and perform. Nonetheless, DICOTA reserves the rights to invite who they want but if we all agree that Albino Fulani is a member of this diaspora and who also happened to be an artist then why do we seem irritated by him questioning why DICOTA made that decision? Where is inclusiveness here? To Albino's defence, he has all the rights to question and all of you who are critisizing him without proper merits should fall back.
Y'all Missing the point here...Funds..Funds...Funds. I'll jst post few question that i would ask myself if i had to organise this event.
ReplyDelete1. Mlengwa ni nani?
2. Wasanii wanaokuja wangapi (watagharimu $$$$)
-Ofcourse msanii kutoka Tanzania kumpleka US na kurudi atagharimu x10 kuliko ukichukua msanii Local. Simple Math.
3. Tunatoa ujumbe gani kwenda nyumbani(atleast $$$ za kuleta ndege nzima mngetuma hata vitabu mashuleni,waadhilika wa ukimwi, yatima, hospitalini,vyandalua,nk)
Maoni: Naomba muoenyeshe utofauti wa kukaa nchi zilizoendelea jamani... Najua mmechanga kuleta wasanii na kununua masuti na kupanga mahoteli ya kifahali;kana kwamba mmesahau hali halisi ya nchi yenu!! ikifika kwenye mambo muhimu hata ya kusomesha wadogo, ndungu, jamaa, jirani, au mtanzania mwenzako hamleti misaada.. Mimi naona hiyo mikutano inakuwa na malengo tofauti sana labda mmngeipa majina tofauti msitumie DICOTA jina ambalo linawakilisha watu wengi ambao hawahusiki..
Umeme umekatika(Mgao)Sorry! i got to go!!!
Guys lets be fair on him.. I'll support anyone who is capable to express his feeing openly than vijiweni probably most of you would do, or you'd rather keep it onto your so called intellectual circle with your own way of complaining without being told "MNALALAMIKA KAMA WABONGO" pretending that everything is okay. It does not matter how or when he made out to speak, somehow he did what he had to do, I can't not defend him on blasting Local bands to be paid as he spoke his reasons that he has all rights to speak them.. which I'd be surprised if those bands would truly be payed as one band member proved. DICOTA is not bad idea as in organization.. but some of it leaders if I can call them that way are not doing what they are there for all I can see its just some UJIKO that they are the part of some thing called DICOTA.. I almost got conned by one DICOTA leaders last year.. yet I still wonder why someone like that can still be called DICOTA.. take a closer look with all this then you'll see how DICOTA operate and for whose benefit..
ReplyDeleteFor you Albino Fulani and the rest of Bongo Flavor never give up but DICOTA interest is on so called highly educated people with last names who only work with less minded others who cannot challenge them just like The Government system in TZ now if you happen to be out of their interest then forget it.
Jitukali
In the past I had some reservations with DICOTA, but as days go on and went through their mission and vision statements as well as the objectives I found that a person like Albino Fulani was not even supposed to critisize DICOTA if he is not a member. DICOTA is owned by members who shared the common interest as shown in their manifest. It is very unfair to criticize them while you share no any interest in their businesses. Some of my fellow Tanzanians do not appreciate others' efforts to make things happened, they want to harvest from the shamba that they did not sow any seed. Albino Fulani, the center of your argument is on FUNDS...why it has to go to others not you...but you forgot that DICOTA has owners and they are bound by the collective decisions they take. They are not legally bound in any way to invite anyone within the Tanzanian Diaspora to perform in their events. Their decision to do so will depend on their interest and probably the demand.
ReplyDeleteI am living in US and not a DICOTA member as its membership does not come by default though its entry eligibility is open for any Tanzanian. I urge Albino Fulani dont take things for granted that you are 'big artist' and everyone will pay attention to you, work hard and convince people that they need your presence. We live in US where we believe in working hard and not favors, so you were supposed to be of an example. I believe Mzee Yusuf or Kilimanjaro Band meet the DICOTA standards and expectations so don't blame them rather than be part of DICOTA and hail them for acknowledging the importance of Tanzanian music and musicians...afterall, DICOTA would want to promote Tanzanian music in America. I think probably in years to come DICOTA may hold their meetings in Tanzania and they may want to promote the Tanzanian Music in diaspora.
Lastly, be part of DICOTA or you may form your own Tanzanian Music Diaspora and meet the challenges.
Well done DICOTA!!!!
Jamani HAIJALISHI IEMCHUKUA MTU MUDA GANI KUONGEA, LA MUHIMU NI KWAMBA MTU HAS GOT GUTTS AND WHAT IT TAKES TO COME OUT NA KUCHANA OPINIONS NA VIEW ZAKE KAMA HIVI ALIVYOFANYA ALBINO FULANI.MBONA HAMNA ALIYEJITOKEZA KUONGELEA HILI SWALA KABLA YAKE? ALBINO FULANI WATANZANIA WASIKUKATISHE TAMAA KWA KUKWAMBIA UNALALMIKA,KWANI UNA HAKI.. NA HAPO HUJIONGELEI WEWE BINAFSI BALI UMEBEBA SAUTI ZA MUSICIANS WENZAKO PIA. KITAELEWEKA TU. BINAFSI NINAKUSIFU
ReplyDeleteHivi kihaki kweli nyie mnaona ni sawa kuita wanamuziki kutoka Tanzania ilihali tunafahamu fika hali yetu kiuchumi ikoje kwenye nchi yetu? sawa ni swala la serikali iliyo madarakani to worry about that but ni jukumu la kila mtanzania as well kuwa mzalendo na kuplay a role in making a deference no matter how small it is.. Majanga mangapi yanatupata hapa hilo la juzi tu huko visiwani Zanzibar bado bichii kbisa na kesho sijui ni ipi tena!! Nyie mnaona ni sawa kabisa kugharamia artists watoke Tanzania waje Marekani? Kwanini msifikirie artists walioko hukohuko na badale yake mjitolee kwa watanzania wenzenu jamani wanaoishi kwenye mazingira magumu? Sisi ni wamoja jamani tufikiriane na tuache chuki binafsi, hatutoendelea namna hii.. tupeane support whenever and however possible. Haya mambo ya kutaka vyeo kwa ajili ya fame and other selfish interests hayatatufikisha kokote watanzania. Nna uhakika hata mataifa mengine yanatucheka sana watanzania tukiongozwa na our so called president. TUBADILIKE NA TUKUBALI KUKOSOLEWA.
Nnavyojua mimi Albino Fulani amehamia bongo. Sasa mnavyosema alitaka kualikwa yeye inakuwa kudakia mambo msiyoyaelewa... nimesoma barua yake mara tatu, hamna sehemu amejizungumzia yeye binafsi.... all the time amezungumzia "artists"!! I believe alikuwa anawaongelea others ambao amekuwa nao US.... how is that hard to understand??? Mkipewa ukweli mnageuza geuza mambo!!
ReplyDeleteHamisi
Albino fulani,
ReplyDeletePiga muziki wa nyumbani Tanzania na mambo yatakunyookea. Mtu akitaka HIPHOP kwenye shughuli yake atamuita mmarekani, akitaka REGGAE atamuita mjamaika, Akitaka muziki haswa wa kitanzania atawaita hao kina njenje, Twanga pepeta na wengineo. sasa mtu kama wewe unakuwa umebaki njia panda. Kwanza mnakuwaga hamna bendi, mnategemea kuweka CD na kuwadanganya watu kuwa mnaimba. Nyinyi huwa mnaimba studio tu basi na si kwenye stage. Kwenye stage mnakuwa mnadanganya tu na DICOTA wanalijuwa hilo. Mtawadanganya wabongo tu na wengine wasiojuwa maana ya kupata ladha ya asili ya miziki ya ukweli. Njenje na bendi nyingine za bongo wanakuwa wanapiga live ya ukweli na si ubabaishaji.
Halafu wacha dharau kwa hao wanamuziki wa nyumbani, wao ni wanamuziki wakubwa na wa ukweli, wanajuwa nini wakifanyacho, si kama nyinyi mnaojaribu kuwaiga kina Jay Z, 50 Cent na nk. Nadhani hao DICOTA wanayajuwa hayo yote, ndiomaana wamewaita wanamuziki wa ukweli toka nyumbani.
Mdau
London
Leadership in Tanzanian communities and organizations across United States will never be SUCCESSFUL, until they understand the SCIENCE behind GENERATIONAL GAP.Leadership needs to change their approach (OLD IDEAS)…not us!..Akili Mtaalam
ReplyDelete