Aslay the crown prince of Bongo Flava

What you need to know:

The teams have been formed and the missiles have been flying all over the place, the issues at hand are rather very unmusical to say the least.

Tanzanian's showbiz has been a very noisy place lately to the tune of threatening an outbreak of a fully blown conflict, shaking the very foundations that the nascent Bongo Flava was built on.
The teams have been formed and the missiles have been flying all over the place, the issues at hand are rather very unmusical to say the least.
However, far from the maddening crowd a Prince has been born and he is taking away the spotlight from the so-called kings and queens of the industry with compositions that will last long enough to tell the tale. Dogo Aslay a former member of the Yamoto Band has taken the Bongo Flava fraternity by storm with his releases in the solo project just months after they split.
He has been churning hit after hit with songs such as Mhudumu, Likizo, Usiitie Doa featuring Hadija Kopa, Angekuona, Pusha becoming household names.
Unfortunately, with the nature of Bongo Flava industry not many seem to be paying attention to the great lyrical content and the art of storytelling that this lad exudes in his compositions.
One pundit and composer Hassan Ndama who has worked with several artistes admits that they are songs that don’t need promotion to be played as the content resonates with both young and old fans alike. “The songs that he released this year alone are a manifestation that he has grown and maybe he needs just a little spark to take on the continental market,” says Hassan.
Though there was a time when record labels and managers committed themselves more seriously to developing the careers of their recording artistes, most managers today want a complete package.
“Today, it is much harder to find a record label or a management committed to this goal. When a major label signs a new artist or band, they presume the act has sufficient musical, songwriting, and performance talent, and are ready for the big time,” he says.
Singer Barnaba is among the accomplished musicians of this era given his ability to write, play multiple instruments and perform, he admits to be an avid listener and follower of Aslay’s music.
In an interview with EATV’s eNewz he says Aslay’s way is perhaps how to do it as opposed to what many of today’s artistes are doing.
“I like what Aslay is doing, he write a good story that we can relate with for example in his song Mhudumu, Danga, Pusha and even Usiitie Doa,” he told eNewz.
He adds: He is not using so much energy to get his music to the public but when you go out there it what is being played in the bars and the good thing is that he has got people talking.
These remarks must have been very disturbing for the noisy neighbours who for some reason believe Bongo Flava revolves around the beef that they create at will for Aslay has let the audience talk.
Maybe the wait is finally over for that breath of fresh air in what seems to be congested room saturated with Afrobeats.
When the Yamoto Band was formed they seemed to be destined for bigger things and that is what it looked like in the early days before the disruptive forces of the industry got the better of them.
With Aslay as the pillar on which the band was built by Said Fella aka Mkubwa Fella, Aslay has proved that he has what it takes go on his own and the band was only slowing down his progress for the years that they were together.
Mkubwa had a well calculated plan which unfortunately failed to take care of the individual egos of these up and coming artistes.
They had discipline; very well organized, all under the tutelage of Mkubwa Fella aka Said Fella and they were soon enjoying the fruits of hard work. They were stars who were destined for greatness.
Their 2014 hit single Nitakupwelepweta is still one of the biggest songs to be released by a Tanzanian band in the modern era.
The following year, they came up with hits such as Mahaba Niuwe and Cheza kwa Madoido and quickly rose to regional prominence.
However, since the release of Mama in February 2016, fame and fortune seems to have worked against them and it wasn’t a surprise to see each band member pursue a solo project.
Fingers have been pointed and unfriendly remarks too have been made for what seems to be thunderous fall for a group that was once the envy of many.
What was clear is that they all wanted to be recognized as forces of their own making rather than a collective unit that Fella had made them become.
Speaking to Bongo 5, the prominent businessman and promoter, absolves Dogo Aslay of any blame, saying it was being economical with the truth for each artiste to try to gain prominence than use the group for growth.
“When Yamoto was born, I wanted Alsay to hold the hands of the others so that they become popular. But business has changed and groups are no longer in demand. The fee for a group is very different compared to that of an individual artiste,” says Fella, of the situation.
But why did Fella absolve Dogo Aslay of the group’s collapse? Did he become too selfish for the group?
May be he was right because as a group, the other three were always bound to drag their feet at the expense of the multitalented singer who was a star long before the group was formed.
Last weekend in Arusha where he was performing at the Tigo Fiesta the dimunitive artiste showed how the years of transition under the tutelage of Mkubwa Fella had really turned him into a darling of the audience.
His performance was accomplished, though he is still miles away from the self proclaimed kings and lions of the day, there is every indications that with some slight polish he could well be the crown prince destined for the throne.