Cool James
Encyclopedia
Cool James, real name James Maligisa Dandu also known as "Mtoto wa Dandu"or CJ Massive( 1970 in Mwanza
, Tanzania
– August 27, 2002) was a Tanzania
n musician.
Having finished his primary studies at Kurasini Primary School in Tanzania, he moved with his parents to Sweden
. James wanted to study mathematics
but could not do so because they only taught it in Swedish
. He chose to study music instead and ended up enjoying it.
His professional musical career started in 1988, he released his first musical album in 1992, already a dance-oriented production. In 1993 he got together with another East African named Andrew Muturi to form the group Swahili Nation
. After a while they let a brother of Andrew join the group, and after that yet another brother. James left and joined with a congolese J.Masena(Black Teacher).
In 1994 he and Black Teacher formed the group Cool James and Black Teacher
. They released only one album, the 1994 record called Zooming You. It included many hits, especially the song Dr. Feelgood.
A while after the Cool James and Black Teacher project James moved back to his home continent and started making Swahili beats as well as more African style music
. In 1999 he released album Africa's Most Wanted using the name CJ Massive.
James said he was inspired by musicians such as Koffi Olomide
, Kanda Bongo Man
, Puff Daddy and Michael Jackson
.
On August 27, 2002 James Dandu died in a car accident in Dar es Salaam
, Tanzania
.
Mwanza
Mwanza is a mid-sized port city on the southern shores of Lake Victoria in northwestern Tanzania. With an urban population of 1.2 million and a metropolitan population of 2 million, it is Tanzania's second largest city, following Dar es Salaam and ahead of other major Tanzanian cities of Arusha,...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
– August 27, 2002) was a Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
n musician.
Having finished his primary studies at Kurasini Primary School in Tanzania, he moved with his parents to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. James wanted to study mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
but could not do so because they only taught it in Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
. He chose to study music instead and ended up enjoying it.
His professional musical career started in 1988, he released his first musical album in 1992, already a dance-oriented production. In 1993 he got together with another East African named Andrew Muturi to form the group Swahili Nation
Swahili Nation
Swahili Nation was a Sweden-based Swahili language R&B and Hip hop music group. The group was started in the 1990s by Kenyan brothers Andrew Muturi and Robert Muturi and the Tanzanian Cool James. In 1992, after Cool James went solo, the group was joined by the Ugandans Ken Kayongo and Charlie...
. After a while they let a brother of Andrew join the group, and after that yet another brother. James left and joined with a congolese J.Masena(Black Teacher).
In 1994 he and Black Teacher formed the group Cool James and Black Teacher
Cool James and Black Teacher
Cool James and Black Teacher was a Swedish eurodance group consisting of Cool James and Black Teacher . The group was formed in Solna, Sweden and was signed to Stockholm Records....
. They released only one album, the 1994 record called Zooming You. It included many hits, especially the song Dr. Feelgood.
A while after the Cool James and Black Teacher project James moved back to his home continent and started making Swahili beats as well as more African style music
Music of Africa
Africa is a vast continent and its regions and nations have distinct musical traditions. The music of North Africa for the most part has a different history from sub-Saharan African music traditions....
. In 1999 he released album Africa's Most Wanted using the name CJ Massive.
James said he was inspired by musicians such as Koffi Olomide
Koffi Olomide
Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba, also known as Koffi Olomide , is a DR Congolese soukous singer, dancer, producer, and composer. He is also known by a multitude of other names and aliases.-Background:...
, Kanda Bongo Man
Kanda Bongo Man
Kanda Bongo Man, born 1955 in Inongo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a prominent soukous musician.Kanda Bongo Man become the singer for Orchestra Belle Mambo in 1973, developing a sound influenced by Tabu Ley...
, Puff Daddy and Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
.
On August 27, 2002 James Dandu died in a car accident in Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
.