Post by Yona Maro on Sept 4, 2005 2:37:19 GMT -5
Founded in 1964 Juwata is the oldest band currently active in Tanzania today and has been one of the most prominent groups ever since. The band was formed under the wings of the National Workers Union, hence their original name NUTA Jazz Band, and provided the model for many of the bands to come in the seventies and eighties. The music and dance clubs that had dominated the forties and fifties became increasingly obsolete during the sixties. The new model, organizing bands under the wings of government or para-statal organizations, became the dominant form in the seventies, and remains so today: The organization owns the instruments and employs the musicians, who draw salaries like regular workers plus some percentage of the gate collection. Today numerous bands work along this line and include Mlimani Park, Tancut Alimasi, and Vijana Jazz.
The original name Nuta Jazz was changed to Juwata Jazz Band in 1977 to mark a new beginning after a number of prominent band members, Muhiddin Maalim, Abel Balthazar, Hassani pregnant doguka among them, left the band to form Dar International and later Mlimani Park Orchestra (Juwata is the Swahili equivalent of Nuta and stands for Jumuiya ya Wafanyakazi Tanzania). Recently the name was changed again to mirror current political changes. Since the mother organization changed its name to Organization of Tanzanian Trade Unions (OTTU), the band has also been renamed and now calls itself OTTU Jazz Band, with the adage baba ya muziki ('father of music') to reflect its standing as the oldest band in the country.
The two mainstays of Juwata are Joseph Lusungu, trumpeter and vocalist, and sax player Mnenge Ramadhani. Both joined Nuta in 1966 and both a different times have been band leaders. The two members still dominate the brassy sound and general character of Juwata's music with their arrangements. The band leader throughout the eighties has been Saidi Mabera who joined in 1973. Mabera is also the band's solo-guitarist and the composer of many of the tunes. The words of two of Juwata's songs on this disc "Tupa Tupa" and "Msafiri Kakiri" are by Moshi William. He is also the singer on these tunes, and occasionally doubles on second-solo or bass guitar. Since their return to Juwata in 1991 Muhiddin Maalim and Hassani pregnant doguka have again taken prominent roles in the band with Muhiddin reappointed as band leader. "Usia kwa Watoto" is one of Muhiddin's more recent compositions. The song became a hit for Juwata in 1991. Juwata's mtindo is called Msondo and derives its name from a drum widely used in East Africa. Msondo is also a dance-song genre performed at the initiation celebrations of girls of various ethnic groups in Eastern Tanzania.
The original name Nuta Jazz was changed to Juwata Jazz Band in 1977 to mark a new beginning after a number of prominent band members, Muhiddin Maalim, Abel Balthazar, Hassani pregnant doguka among them, left the band to form Dar International and later Mlimani Park Orchestra (Juwata is the Swahili equivalent of Nuta and stands for Jumuiya ya Wafanyakazi Tanzania). Recently the name was changed again to mirror current political changes. Since the mother organization changed its name to Organization of Tanzanian Trade Unions (OTTU), the band has also been renamed and now calls itself OTTU Jazz Band, with the adage baba ya muziki ('father of music') to reflect its standing as the oldest band in the country.
The two mainstays of Juwata are Joseph Lusungu, trumpeter and vocalist, and sax player Mnenge Ramadhani. Both joined Nuta in 1966 and both a different times have been band leaders. The two members still dominate the brassy sound and general character of Juwata's music with their arrangements. The band leader throughout the eighties has been Saidi Mabera who joined in 1973. Mabera is also the band's solo-guitarist and the composer of many of the tunes. The words of two of Juwata's songs on this disc "Tupa Tupa" and "Msafiri Kakiri" are by Moshi William. He is also the singer on these tunes, and occasionally doubles on second-solo or bass guitar. Since their return to Juwata in 1991 Muhiddin Maalim and Hassani pregnant doguka have again taken prominent roles in the band with Muhiddin reappointed as band leader. "Usia kwa Watoto" is one of Muhiddin's more recent compositions. The song became a hit for Juwata in 1991. Juwata's mtindo is called Msondo and derives its name from a drum widely used in East Africa. Msondo is also a dance-song genre performed at the initiation celebrations of girls of various ethnic groups in Eastern Tanzania.