Vijana Jazz Orchestra (also known as Vijana Jazz Band or simply Vijana Jazz) is a Tanzanian

muziki wa dansi Muziki wa dansi (in Swahili: "dance music"), or simply dansi, is a Tanzanian music genre, derivative of Congolese soukous. It is sometimes called Swahili jazz because most dansi lyrics are in Swahili, and "jazz" is an umbrella term used in Cent ...

band that reached its peak of popularity in the 1980s.Discography of Tanzanian Music
/ref> As with many other dansi bands of the times, it was sponsored by a government institution, namely the Umoja wa Vijana, i.e., the youth wing of Tanzania's ruling party

Tanganyika African National Union The Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) was the principal political party in the struggle for sovereignty in the East African state of Tanganyika (now Tanzania). The party was formed from the Tanganyika African Association by Julius Nyerere ...

(TANU) (renamed Chama cha Mapinduzi in 1977).

History

The band was founded in 1971 by John Ondoro Chacha. In 1978, the Tanzanian government passed a law that allowed bands to purchase foreign instruments (something that had previously been forbidden by the

Baraza la Muziki la Taifa Baraza la Muziki la Taifa (BAMUTA; Swahili for "National Music Council") was a national council created in 1974 by the government of the newly independent Tanzania. Its purpose was to regulate the music business in the country, in the context of a ...

, a governative council responsible for the regulation of the music business). Vijana Jazz was one of the first bands to take on this opportunity, and in the 1980s it became extremely popular because of its innovative sound that made use of synthesizers and drum machines.Vijana Jazz
/ref> Popular ''mitindo'' (styles) created by Vijana Jazz include ''sindimba'', ''heka heka'', ''koka koka'', ''watoto wa nyumbani'' and ''pamba moto''. Some of the most notable musicians that have played in Vijana Jazz are Hamza Kalala, Hemedi Maneti, Issa Chikupele and Manitu Musa. The band declined in popularity in the early 1990s, partly as a consequence of its leader's sudden death (in 1990).

Partial discography

Note: Vijana Jazz records were published by a variety of labels, including at least Africa79, Ahadi, Ken-Tanza, Moto Moto, and

Polydor Polydor Records Ltd. is a German-British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in the United States ...

.KenTanza Vinyl
* ''Mary Maria'' (1986) * ''Moto'' * ''Mundinde'' * Hayati Hemed Maneti and Vijana Jazz, ''Makumbusho'' * ''Best of Vijana Jazz vol. 1'' * ''Best of Vijana Jazz vol. 2'' * ''Best of Vijana Jazz vol. 3'' * ''Best of Vijana Jazz vol. 4'' * ''Hayati Maneti Last Recording'' Several muziki wa dansi collections include songs by Vijana Jazz. Some examples are: * ''Swahili Hits'', 1985 * ''Swahili Hits vol. 3'' * ''Swahili Hits vol. 4'' * ''Tanzania Hit Parade'' * ''Tanzania Hit Parade vol. 2'' * ''Tanzania Hit Parade vol. 3'' * ''Tanzania Hit Parade 1988'' * ''The Rough Guide to the Music of Tanzania''

Footnotes

Tanzanian musical groups {{tanzania-stub