Gangwe Mobb is a
Tanzanian hip hop
Tanzanian Hip-hop, which is sometimes referred
to Bongo Flava by many outside of Tanzania's hip hop community, encompasses a large variety of different sounds, but it is particularly known for heavy synth riffs and an incorporation of Tanzania ...
group. They come from
Temeke
Temeke District (officially known as Temeke Municipal Council ) is one of five district in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with Kinondoni to the far north of the city, and Ilala in the downtown of Dar es Salaam. To the east is the Indian Ocean and to t ...
neighborhood in
Dar es Salaam. It has two members: Inspector Haroun (real name Haroun Kahena) and Luteni Kalama (Karama Bakari). The group was established in late 1990s soon after
Kwanza Unit,
Mr. II and other had popularized Swahili
hip hop music in
Tanzania
Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands ...
. The name "Gangwe" is derived from a popular 1980s slang term meaning "hardcore". In context, gangwe refers to the grimy and ghetto hip hop mentality that comprise most of their songs.
Their first hit was titled "Mauzauza". Their debut album, "Simulizi La Ufasaha" contained national hits "Ngangali" and "Mtoto wa Geti Kali". Their second album "Nje Ndani", released in 2002 had their arguably most popular hit, "Asali wa Moyo". One of their singles entitled "Bundasiliga" means "slinger of bundles of hay" and suggests a social message. They also collaborated with Kenyan group
Necessary Noize with song "Tunajirusha".
Gangwe Mobb have described their music as ''cartoon rap'' (''rap katuni'' in Swahili). It tells about situations what lower class urban youth encounter in their everyday lives. Their songs are also known have almost created a new slang dialect with creating a new slang word for each song.
The group has a song named "Rap Katuni" on their "Nje Ndani" album.
At the 2004
Tanzania Music Awards
Tanzania Music Awards are national music awards held annually in Tanzania
Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes r ...
their album ''Nje Ndani'' was nominated in the best Hip Hop Album category.
The group has been dormant since 2004. Inspekta Haroun has since done solo career, while Luteni Kalama has kept lower profile but has been with Wanaume Family led by
Juma Nature. In 2008 Gangwe Mobb announced a comeback.
[Darhotwire.com]
Gangwe is Back!
They have said that the inspiration for their name came from legendary hip-hop group
Mobb Deep.
References
{{Reflist
External links
www.gangwemobb.com through archive.orgAfricanhiphop.com: Bongo’s new ghetto narrators
Tanzanian hip hop groups