Salmin Kasimu Maengo (born 9 May 1995), popularly known by his producer-artist name S2KIZZY, is a Tanzanian record producer and songwriter. He is best known for producing Bongo Flava songs "Amaboko" by

Diamond Platnumz Nasibu Abdul Juma Issack (born 2 October 1989), popularly known by his stage name Diamond Platnumz, is a Tanzanian bongo flava recording artist, dancer, philanthropist and a businessman of Ha heritage. He is the founder and CEO of WCB Wasafi ...

, and "Tetema" by

Rayvanny Raymond Shaban Mwakyusa (born 22 August 1993), better known by his stage name Rayvanny, is a Tanzanian musician, songwriter and recording artist who was signed under WCB Wasafi record label until July 2022. He was born and raised in Nzovwe war ...

. He has produced albums for and overseen the careers of Diamond Platnumz, Rayvanny,

Bill Nass William Nicholaus Lyimo (born 11 April 1993), popularly known by his stage name Bill Nass, is a Tanzanian rapper of Chagga heritage, he was born in Tanga, Tanga Region. MTV Base named him among the "50 Artists To Watch For In 2017". He is curren ...

and

Vanessa Mdee Vanessa Hau Mdee (born 7 June 1988), is a Tanzanian singer, rapper, television personality and radio host. Mdee is popularly known for being the first ever Tanzanian MTV VJ. She later rose to prominence as a radio and TV host, hosting ''Epic Bong ...

. He is credited as a 'super-producer' in contemporary Bongo-Flava, Bongo-Trap, Afrobeats and Afro-pop.

Career

Maengo is the founder and current CEO of Pluto Records, but works predominantly with

WCB (Wasafi Classic Baby) Nasibu Abdul Juma Issack (born 2 October 1989), popularly known by his stage name Diamond Platnumz, is a Tanzanian bongo flava recording artist, dancer, philanthropist and a businessman of Ha heritage. He is the founder and CEO of WCB Wasafi ...

Amber Rose Amber Rose Levonchuck (born October 21, 1983) is an American model and television personality. She first gained attention after she appeared in the music video for Young Jeezy and Kanye West's single " Put On". In 2008, Rose began a high-profi ...

may be working on a project with him.

Early life and career beginnings

Salmin, named after the late President of Zanzibar

Salmin Amour Salmin Amour (born 1942) is a Tanzanian politician who served as President of Zanzibar Zanzibar (; ; ) is an insular semi-autonomous province which united with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania. It is an archipe ...

, was born in

Mbeya Mbeya is a city located in south west Tanzania, Africa. Mbeya's urban population is 620,000 according to the 2022 census. Mbeya is the capital of the surrounding rural Mbeya region (population, with Mbeya, totals approx. 2 million). Mbeya is si ...

, and raised by his auntie as her own. His mother passed away when he was 3 years old, shortly after which his father left and remarried. He was raised a Muslim. His interest in music begin early, and during primary school he started to learn how to play the drums. Later, during his secondary years he attended a boarding school in

Morogoro Morogoro is a city in the eastern part of Tanzania west of Dar es Salaam. Morogoro is the capital of the Morogoro Region. It is also known informally as "Mji kasoro bahari" which translates to “city short of an ocean/port." The Belgian base ...

, Tanzania. He used this opportunity to borrow his friends laptop which he used to self-teach music production. He would tell his auntie that he needed to stay in the school during the holidays as punishment, to insure that he had time to focus on improving his craft. He has described in several interviews the struggles he faced at the start of his career.

Events

In 2020 there was a break-in at his studio in Dar es Salaam which was widely reported. Then President of Tanzania, John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, vouched to find the responsible party and government representatives personally investigated the matter. In 2021 when the late president of Tanzania,

John Pombe Magufuli John Pombe Joseph Magufuli (29 October 1959 – 17 March 2021) was the fifth president of Tanzania, serving from 2015 until his death in 2021. He served as Minister of Works, Transport and Communications from 2000 to 2005 and 2010 to 2015 and wa ...

, passed S2Kizzy produced a song to commemorate his legacy featuring several Tanzanian artistes. The collaboration was widely reported and featured artists such as:

Zuchu Zuhura Othman Soud (born 22 November 1993), better known by her stage name Zuchu, is a Tanzanian singer and songwriter born in Zanzibar. She is based in Dar es Salaam and signed to WCB Wasafi record label. She was awarded the Silver Plaque Bu ...

Ben Pol Benard Michael Paul Mnyang'anga better known by his stage name Ben Pol, is a Tanzanian singer and songwriter from Dar es salaam, Tanzania. Music career His previous release “Ningefanyaje”, featured Kenyan artist Avril and ranked #1 on Sound ...

, Jux, Queen Darleen, Lava Lava and Marioo, amongst others.

Awards and nominations

Produced songs and features

References

{{Authority control 1995 births Tanzanian Muslims Living people 21st-century Tanzanian male singers Tanzanian producers People from Dar es Salaam Tanzanian Bongo Flava musicians Swahili-language singers