Ambwene Yesayah aka A-Y is one of the most popular musicians in East Africa. He started collaborating with other African musicians way before it became common in the African music scene. He enjoyed a lot of success with his recent hit, Leo which won him MTV MAMA nominations and continues to shine. His album drops soon with singles like Leo (remix), Kings & Queens and Bed & Breakfast. He took some time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions from Museke.com. Here is the transcript of the interview.

Museke.com: Mambo? Habari gani?
A-Y: Poa sana mambo vipi?

Museke.com: Can you tell us a little about your background and family?
A-Y: - My name is Ambwene Yesayah, I’m a 3rd born in a family of four kids. A.Y is a stage name and a performance personality. I would say A.Y is a successful artist in Tanzania and in many other parts in East Africa. A.Y is also a businessman when he is not performing on stage.

20 artists whose songs are ruling the airwaves in Tanzania now and beyond as we enter 2010. These are the songs bound to keep the dance floors busy at all the picnics, shows and parties. 20 Tanzanian artistes making the waves in this Museke chart/countdown.

Here is the menu for the month of January

Ali kiba - Msiniseme, Mali yangu
A-Y- Bed & Breakfast, Kings & Queens

America's annual 'gathering of giants' pays tribute to Tanzanian hip hop

Rapper Gsan of the group X Plastaz from Arusha, Tanzania, is representing Africa in this year's edition of the BET Hip Hop Awards, broadcast on October 27 on BET (Black Entertainment Television) in the USA. Meanwhile, X Plastaz' dj/producer Threesixty is heard all around the world through his production for major hip hop artist Redman (Def Jam).

The annual BET Hip Hop Awards are watched by millions of hip hop fans across the United States. Especially the part of the show in which Gsan participates, titled the BET Hip Hop Awards cypher, is highly anticipated as it's a true gathering of giants in rap music. The cypher, in which the artists go back to the raw essence of hip hop, sees legendary dj/producer Premier team up with emcees such as Mos Def, Black Thought, Eminem and Joe Budden. The section in which BET pays tribute to the growing popularity of hip hop from East Africa by including Gsan sees the Arusha-born rapper team up with veteran rapper KRS One along with newcomers Wale and Nipsey Hussle.

Zouk and reggae are becoming popular genres for many young female African musicians to get into, especially those from English-speaking countries. Nuru is a Tanzanian musician, blogger and model based in Sweden. Museke.com caught up with her to ask her about her music, career, interests, etc. Below is the interview transcript.

Museke.com: Habari gani?
Nuru: Nzuri tu nashkuru…

Museke.com: Can you tell us about your background and family?
Nuru: Oh my, I’ve got three brothers and am the only girl in the family, but only recently I was blessed to get a sister. I was raised by my mother but now I’ve got 2 dads and two moms which am grateful for. My mom’s side, they have been singing for ages so I think that’s where my music background or ear comes from.

Museke.com: How did you get interested in music and when did you realize you wanted to take up a music career?
Nuru: When I was 13, I joined a school choir not knowing if I could actually sing because I was a very shy and quite kid as a teen but one day one girl singing the lead part got sick so then my friend said come on Nuru, you can do it and I just took the mic and I just saw everybody staring when I opened my mouth. I sang like I had been doing it for years and everybody was shocked. Since that day on I started singing lead, at 16 I went to a performing and arts programme for three years were apart from regular schedule we had vocal coaching, drama, instruments, put up a show n more. Here is where I learned my craft and I was lucky enough to get a record deal at the age of 16 with a record label called Stockholm records. I released three singles and did background vocals for other artists at the label. I toured and learned a lot but I wanted to finish school first so I took a break for a very long time.

The King of Bongo Flava, Alikiba toured the US late last year and Museke.com interviewed him. Read the interview here. This summer, the Tanzanian crooner is back in the United States and you may have a chance to catch him. His Summer 2009 shows are as follows
5/30 Los Angeles
6/6 Kansas City
6/13 Washington D.C.
6/20 TBA
6/27 Dallas

The songs that are all the buzz in Bongo. 20 Tanzanian hit-makers for you to check out. Enough said.

Here is the countdown/chart/menu

A-Y- Freeze, Leo
Marlaw - Busu la pinki, Peep peep
Lady Jaydee - Mko juu, Nilizama
Mr. Blue - Tabasamu
Prof Jay - Njoo, Sauti ya ghetto

The Kilimanjaro Music Awards is Tanzania's answer to Uganda's Pearl of Africa Music Awards and Kenya's Kisima Music Awards. The big winners for the 10th edition were Kenya's Nameless who won Best East African song for Salari, Tanzania's Matonya for Best Song and Collaboration for his Anita track with Lady Jaydee and V.I.P who picked up both Taarab awards.

This year's edition had been launched at the Club Bilicanas in Dar es Salaam in February. The launching ceremony was attended by various musicians including Chidi Beenz, AY, Lady Jay Dee, Mzee Yusuf, Banana Zorro, Mrisho Mpoto and Keisha. The awards show came off on April 5 and featured performances by Keisher, Twanga Pepeta International, Q-Jay and Makamua, Blu3, AY, T.I.D and Nameless.

The winners for the 2009 version are below.

Best Songwriter Professor Jay (Joseph Haule)

We are Media for Development International Tanzania, a sister office of Media for Development Zimbabwe, producers of films like Neria, Yellow Card, and Shanda. We produced this album, Mseto Wahapahapa here in Dar es Salaam with some of Tanzania's biggest stars from a range of local genres (including Lady JD, Banana Zorro, Mzee Yusuf, Flora Mbasha, Bichuka among others).