Tanzanian singer and songwriter NEDY MUSIC rose to fame with his 2016 hit jam Usiende Mbali, featuring Ommy Dimpoz. The 2018 All Africa Music Awards (Afrima) winner talks with SARAH IBRAHIM about his fast-rising music status

Describe your personality and attributes.

I am a singer, dancer and songwriter from Tanzania. I was born 25 years ago as Said Seif Ally in Zanzibar.

I am friendly, positive about life, confident, fun and also love helping my community by supporting women and children living in endangered environment, among other charitable initiatives.

How did you get yourself into music?

For me, this music thing started when I was still in school for my O-Levels in 2012. It was influenced by my dancing. I was a dancer and would always sing along to people’s songs. And that’s when one producer noticed my singing abilities and encouraged me to try it out professionally.

Who exactly groomed you to be the musician you are today?

My first producer Rashid the Voice. He was the one who produced my first song Nijalie in 2013. But I also look up to people with huge music influence such as Mr Nice, Dully Sykes and Professor Jay, among others. 

Do you think you have since grown the ‘muscles’?

Yes. I have evolved in that now my music has gone international and I don’t just do music for Tanzania. I have done a few collaborations and concerts beyond our borders and the future is looking even more promising.

What are your biggest achievements as an artiste so far?

Winning the African Fan’s Favourite award in the 2018 edition of Afrima has been a highlight for my music and my country thus far. It showed me that working hard has its rewards. 

Bongo music has been growing tremendously over the years. Who is that one bongo artiste who has heavily influenced you? 

Rapper AY has been one of the artistes I listened to his music growing up. And he has been such a huge inspiration to me.

Do you think East African music limits itself from the non-Kiswahili speaking world?

I don’t think so. Language has never been a barrier when music is concerned. What we should be concerned about is, are we releasing good music with good arranged melodies and sound?

Because music is all about the feelings and dance. You don’t necessarily have to understand the language for you to love a song. Music transpires all barriers including language.  

Have collaborations helped you as an artiste? 

Absolutely. Collabos have helped me to increase my fan base in and outside my country. They have also given me a certain level of respect within the industry.

However, I wouldn’t advice up-and-coming artistes to go for collabos first; they should try building a name for themselves.

Although, there are people whom collabos have given them the breakthrough they needed in the industry.

Arts are rarely recognised by our governments. What do you think can be done by our East African governments to uplift and better recognise art talents?

I think the governments should be specific and deliberate by appointing an artiste as the minister for arts. Artistes would understand better the challenges we face and how they should me resolved.

Which is that one Kenyan artiste you’d love to work with and why?

For sure that would be Nyashinski. I like him as a person and his style of music too.

What are your current projects? 

My current project is with Juma Jux titled Kinomanoma. I intend to do more international collabos and to make good music that will have a positive impact on society.