DCC Mlimani Park Orchestra
Encyclopedia
DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra (Mlimani Park for short) has been one of the most influent Tanzania
n muziki wa dansi
bands. It was founded in 1978 by former NUTA Jazz Band members Muhiddin Maalim, Hassani Bitchuka and Abel Balthazar; they were later joined by Michael Enoch from Dar es Salaam Jazz Band
. In the 1980s
, Mlimani Park released a string of very popular hits, mostly written by Bitchuka, Cosmas Chidumule, and Shaaban Dede.
With respect to other muziki wa dansi bands of the 1980s such as Vijana Jazz
, that was known for its technical innovations (e.g., electronic instruments) or and Orchestra Maquis Original
, that frequently changed their mtindo (style), Mlimani Park stuck with the dansi tradition. The motto
of the band was ngoma ya ukae ("the dance you will not change"). In their long career they remained faithful to a single mtindo, called sikinde, which in turn was inspired by traditional Tanzanian dances (ngoma
).
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 muziki wa dansi
Muziki wa dansi
Muziki wa dansi , 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 Central and Eastern Africa to refer to soukous, highlife, and other dance music and...
bands. It was founded in 1978 by former NUTA Jazz Band members Muhiddin Maalim, Hassani Bitchuka and Abel Balthazar; they were later joined by Michael Enoch from Dar es Salaam Jazz Band
Dar es Salaam Jazz Band
The Dar es Salaam Jazz Band was a Tanzanian big band from Dar es Salaam that was one of the prominent muziki wa dansi bands between the 1960s and 1970s. It was led by Michael Enoch, who would later play in many other major dansi bands...
. In the 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
, Mlimani Park released a string of very popular hits, mostly written by Bitchuka, Cosmas Chidumule, and Shaaban Dede.
With respect to other muziki wa dansi bands of the 1980s such as Vijana Jazz
Vijana Jazz
Vijana Jazz Orchestra is a Tanzanian muziki wa dansi band that reached its peak of popularity in the 1980s...
, that was known for its technical innovations (e.g., electronic instruments) or and Orchestra Maquis Original
Orchestra Maquis Original
Orchestra Maquis Original is a Tanzanian muziki wa dansi band, originally from DR Congo. Founded in 1970 and still in activity, it is one of the most long-lived dansi bands.-History:...
, that frequently changed their mtindo (style), Mlimani Park stuck with the dansi tradition. The motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
of the band was ngoma ya ukae ("the dance you will not change"). In their long career they remained faithful to a single mtindo, called sikinde, which in turn was inspired by traditional Tanzanian dances (ngoma
Ngoma
Ngoma, Zambia is the only settlement in the south of Kafue National Park. It is a short way south of Itezhi-Tezhi Dam. Ngoma is the home of the head warden for the south half of the park, and for around 200 game wardens and their families employed by ZAWA...
).
Partial discography
- Sikinde (collection of hits, Africassette 9402)
- Sungi (Popular African Music 403)