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| Muhidin Mwalimu Gurumo |
MUHIDIN Mwalimu Gurumo, now in his early 70s, is a veteran musician in East and Central Africa who remains a symbol of the music industry and an idol of most current talents.
Born in 1940 at Masaki in Kisarawe district, Coast region, Gurumo is the second born in a family of five children of Mwalimu Mohammed Gurumo.
The iconic singer has contributed immensely not only to the national, but also the regional music industry, which today exhibits brands and music styles including modern taarab, Bongo flava and hip-hop.
Since his entry in music in 1960, Gurumo has never found reason for exit but underwent different developments of his music locally and in neighboring countries. From single brand music and styles to seeing many innovations is part of his achievements in life.
The gifted singer ventured into music after he had attended Quranic schools where he learned singing at the madrasat. He finished his early learning with considerable imbibing of Scripture.
His first band was Kilimanjaro Chacha Band which identified him as a potential young artist. He singles out Samwel Machango and Salum Mondey, proprietor and band leader respectively as responsible for his initiation and confidence, leading to his later success.
Born in 1940 at Masaki in Kisarawe district, Coast region, Gurumo is the second born in a family of five children of Mwalimu Mohammed Gurumo.
The iconic singer has contributed immensely not only to the national, but also the regional music industry, which today exhibits brands and music styles including modern taarab, Bongo flava and hip-hop.
Since his entry in music in 1960, Gurumo has never found reason for exit but underwent different developments of his music locally and in neighboring countries. From single brand music and styles to seeing many innovations is part of his achievements in life.
The gifted singer ventured into music after he had attended Quranic schools where he learned singing at the madrasat. He finished his early learning with considerable imbibing of Scripture.
His first band was Kilimanjaro Chacha Band which identified him as a potential young artist. He singles out Samwel Machango and Salum Mondey, proprietor and band leader respectively as responsible for his initiation and confidence, leading to his later success.
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| Mzee Gurumo receives a donation from the director of African Stars Band 'Twanga Pepeta', Asha Baraka. PHOTOS/JOHN BADI |
"The duo recruited, moulded and encouraged me to feel comfortable with the microphone, and tune my voice to the audience expectations," says Gurumo.
Interestingly, the band was resident at Amana Social Club, later the home of Msondo Ngoma Music band. Memorable lyrics of one of the numbers with his first band include, 'Nilipoingia bar ndugu zangu walinionea kijicho'.
The song talked about the murmuring among his friends and the neighborhood, threatening harm in certain cases. Gurumo remembers the 'Kijicho' song as it encouraged him to build up strength.
“I began to receive money for the first time as remuneration from my sweat. It was only 5/- after shows, which was a good amount then,” he explains.
As a youthful artist, Gurumo never took up offers to join bands outside Dar es Salaam although up-county bands like Jamhuri and Atomic Jazz (Tanga), Kiko Kids and Tabora Jazz (Tabora) had visited asked him to join their bands.
But he did not last longer with his first band. Ahmed Kipande, leader of then number one band, Kilwa Jazz, wrestled him from Kilimanjaro Band by compensating his first band a tidy sum of 200/- in 1962.
However, Kipande, Duncan Njilima and Juma Mrisho aka 'Ngurimba wa Ngurimba' administration, was not favourable for him and hardly a year later he found a ticket to join Rufiji Jazz, a relatively smaller band than Kilwa Jazz.
Gurumo says as he was a dependable singer at Rufiji Jazz Band, where he was whisked to become one of the musicians to establish a workers' band, NUTA Jazz. Here he met Ahmed Omari, soloist-cum-rhythm guitarist, who was chosen band leader.
NUTA Jazz, owned by the workers union, replaced Kilimanjaro Chacha Band at Amana Social Hall.
NUTA band went on changing its name to JUWATA Jazz Band and later OTTU Jazz Band which was popular with its 'Msondo ngoma' style.
Some of the songs he recorded with NUTA Jazz include 'Nidhamu ya Kazi', 'Mpenzi Zalina', 'Dada Fatuma', 'Kilimo cha Kufa na Kupona', 'Mwengele' and 'Heko Baba Nyerere'.
Gurumo says the band composed 'Heko Baba Nyerere' in appreciation of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere for his effort to organize the people to gain independence of Tanganyika.
Gurumo is one of the founder members of Mlimani Park Orchestra, with its 'Sikinde Ngoma ya Ukae' style, in 1978. Here he composed several numbers including 'Baba na Mama', 'Wikiendi', etc.
Good pay and fringe benefits was a promise he was given by Mlimani Park management.
He notes an improvement in lifestyle and benefits while at Mlimani Park. This was the time he built a decent house at Vingunguti, a piece of land at Mkuranga located some 40km south of Dar es Salaam and put his children in good schools.
His colleagues with the new band included vocalist and deputy band leader Cosmas Chidumule, who later took up Gospel music, Joseph Mulenga (solo guitarist) and Abdallah Gama.
In 1985 Gurumo was convinced by a prominent businessman in Dar es Salaam, Hugo Kisima to join Orchestra Safari Sound (OSS) which was formerly under the late “Supreme” Fred Ndala Kasheba.
Kasheba's style with Safari Sound was 'Dukuduku' but Gurumo came with 'Ndekule', a name coming from the Zaramo people, main ethnic group in Coast region.
His moving to OSS caused havoc to Mlimani Park as he took with him key musicians, including solo guitarist Abel Balthazar and Kasim Rashidi. With OSS he composed several hits, including 'Usimchezee Chatu' and 'Bwana Kinyogoli'.
But things did not go that smoothly as his former band, Ottu, still persuaded him to make a comeback. He returned to Juwata in 1990 and stayed until 2002 when the band was handed over to the musicians themselves.
He became the band leader assisted by the late Tx Moshi William and Saidi Mabera.
With Msondo Ngoma Music Band, popularly known as 'Baba ya Muziki,' Gurumo is proud to have composed several hit songs in his career.
Due to old age and ill health, the veteran musician is poised to prepare himself for life beyond active staging, remaining as overall director and patron.
Apart from music, Gurumo also loves soccer and he is an ardent supporter of Simba Sports Club.
He also admires fellow musicians Hassan Bitchuka, Hussein Jumbe, Shaaban Dede and Cosmas Chidumule for their immense talent in singing and discipline.
Interestingly, the band was resident at Amana Social Club, later the home of Msondo Ngoma Music band. Memorable lyrics of one of the numbers with his first band include, 'Nilipoingia bar ndugu zangu walinionea kijicho'.
The song talked about the murmuring among his friends and the neighborhood, threatening harm in certain cases. Gurumo remembers the 'Kijicho' song as it encouraged him to build up strength.
“I began to receive money for the first time as remuneration from my sweat. It was only 5/- after shows, which was a good amount then,” he explains.
As a youthful artist, Gurumo never took up offers to join bands outside Dar es Salaam although up-county bands like Jamhuri and Atomic Jazz (Tanga), Kiko Kids and Tabora Jazz (Tabora) had visited asked him to join their bands.
But he did not last longer with his first band. Ahmed Kipande, leader of then number one band, Kilwa Jazz, wrestled him from Kilimanjaro Band by compensating his first band a tidy sum of 200/- in 1962.
However, Kipande, Duncan Njilima and Juma Mrisho aka 'Ngurimba wa Ngurimba' administration, was not favourable for him and hardly a year later he found a ticket to join Rufiji Jazz, a relatively smaller band than Kilwa Jazz.
Gurumo says as he was a dependable singer at Rufiji Jazz Band, where he was whisked to become one of the musicians to establish a workers' band, NUTA Jazz. Here he met Ahmed Omari, soloist-cum-rhythm guitarist, who was chosen band leader.
NUTA Jazz, owned by the workers union, replaced Kilimanjaro Chacha Band at Amana Social Hall.
NUTA band went on changing its name to JUWATA Jazz Band and later OTTU Jazz Band which was popular with its 'Msondo ngoma' style.
Some of the songs he recorded with NUTA Jazz include 'Nidhamu ya Kazi', 'Mpenzi Zalina', 'Dada Fatuma', 'Kilimo cha Kufa na Kupona', 'Mwengele' and 'Heko Baba Nyerere'.
Gurumo says the band composed 'Heko Baba Nyerere' in appreciation of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere for his effort to organize the people to gain independence of Tanganyika.
Gurumo is one of the founder members of Mlimani Park Orchestra, with its 'Sikinde Ngoma ya Ukae' style, in 1978. Here he composed several numbers including 'Baba na Mama', 'Wikiendi', etc.
Good pay and fringe benefits was a promise he was given by Mlimani Park management.
He notes an improvement in lifestyle and benefits while at Mlimani Park. This was the time he built a decent house at Vingunguti, a piece of land at Mkuranga located some 40km south of Dar es Salaam and put his children in good schools.
His colleagues with the new band included vocalist and deputy band leader Cosmas Chidumule, who later took up Gospel music, Joseph Mulenga (solo guitarist) and Abdallah Gama.
In 1985 Gurumo was convinced by a prominent businessman in Dar es Salaam, Hugo Kisima to join Orchestra Safari Sound (OSS) which was formerly under the late “Supreme” Fred Ndala Kasheba.
Kasheba's style with Safari Sound was 'Dukuduku' but Gurumo came with 'Ndekule', a name coming from the Zaramo people, main ethnic group in Coast region.
His moving to OSS caused havoc to Mlimani Park as he took with him key musicians, including solo guitarist Abel Balthazar and Kasim Rashidi. With OSS he composed several hits, including 'Usimchezee Chatu' and 'Bwana Kinyogoli'.
But things did not go that smoothly as his former band, Ottu, still persuaded him to make a comeback. He returned to Juwata in 1990 and stayed until 2002 when the band was handed over to the musicians themselves.
He became the band leader assisted by the late Tx Moshi William and Saidi Mabera.
With Msondo Ngoma Music Band, popularly known as 'Baba ya Muziki,' Gurumo is proud to have composed several hit songs in his career.
Due to old age and ill health, the veteran musician is poised to prepare himself for life beyond active staging, remaining as overall director and patron.
Apart from music, Gurumo also loves soccer and he is an ardent supporter of Simba Sports Club.
He also admires fellow musicians Hassan Bitchuka, Hussein Jumbe, Shaaban Dede and Cosmas Chidumule for their immense talent in singing and discipline.
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