Vanessa Hau Mdee is a Tanzanian recording artist, songwriter, youth activist, TV 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 Bongo Star Search and Dume CHallenge for ITV Tanzania before signing to B'Hits Music Group in late 2012. After joining B'Hits Music Group, Mdee collaborated with Tanzanian rapper A.Y. on a record '’Money'’ and Ommy Dimples, a Bongo Flava artist on a record Me and You that was later voted Song of the Year during the 2013 Kilimanjaro Music Awards. She received an even bigger buzz with the release of her first solo single "Closer", which in its first week was downloaded over 30,000 times, a feat achieved by no other Tanzanian artist. "Closer" remained on the charts for over 13 weeks. Vanessa has had the chance to interview many artists, such as K'Naan, Kelly Rowland, French Montana, Trey Songs,Mac Miller, Rick Ross, Ludacris, Miguel, Donald, Nazizi, Xtatic, Stella Mwangi, Camp Mulla, Tay Grin, Teargas, Dr. Sid and many more African and international acts. In 2012 Mdee hosted MTV Base Meets, a show geared towards empowering young Africans from around the world by giving them the rare opportunity to sit down with an influential leader. MTV Base Meets brought her in the company of Russell Simmons, Alek Wek, former President of Nigeria Hon. Olusegun Obasanjo, football star Emmanuel Adebayor and Akon. Mdee also hosted the Kili Music Awards (Tanzania's music awards) as well as Tanzania's nationwide talent search Epiq Bongo Star Search (EBSS). Mdee is currently working on her new web series Vee World Wide, about her travels and encounters with various celebrities from around the world. People who have appeared on Vee World Wide include Keke Palmer, Carol Rodrigues, Da Internz, Keyshia Knight Pulliam, Letoya Luckett, DWoods, GOOD Music's D'Banj and many more. Mdee was asked to audition for BET's 106 & Park, although she did not get the gig.
Also in 2012, Mdee was awarded at a gala in New York City by the UNA-YP (United Nations Association of Young Professionals) for being an African change maker. In the same month. she was awarded by the GAVI Alliance for her support in the initiation of free vaccinations for Tanzanian children. In May 2013, Mdee was invited to speak at the World Economic Forum for Africa in Cape Town, South Africa on behalf of the GAVI Alliance on the announcement of the new record low price for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. Later that same month, Mdee again spoke on cervical cancer at the Global Forum for Cervical Cancer Prevention in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on behalf of Global Health Strategies. Mdee officially became a GAVI Ambassador aand an active voice against cervical cancer.
Mdee launched her music career in 2012, working on the single "Me and You" by Ommy Dimpoz. A month later. she released her first single "Closer". These scored her four nominations at Tanzania's Music Awards (Kilimanjaro Tanzania Music Awards), including "Bongo Pop Song of the year", which she won. She also won Collaboration of the Year.
Kenyan singer Jackson Ngechu a.k.a prezzoo best known as one of the celebrity housemates on the seventh season of the reality competition television series Big Brother Africa, in 2012. Prezzo was born in Nairobi and grew up in the streets of Eastleigh. He started his music dream way back but only blew up in the early years of the 21st century. He describes his early years as being hectic especially school was just not one of his favourite things to do.When he was 16, he ran away from home when his mother insisted that he take his school work seriously. He escaped from home and went to stay with a friend with whom he would party the whole week. However, he eventually returned home because he realised he could not party forever.His debut album "Naleta Action" was released in 2004 and included tracks like Naleta Action, Let's Get Down, Mahangaiko, Leo ni Leo, Mimi na Wewe and Mafans, among others. This album also featured his own mother - who sang a few lines in one of the songs. Prezzo was widely accepted in East Africa and his popularity heightened by his flossing antics. He is well known for his flashy lifestyle consisting of expensive jewellery, lavish clothing, flashy cars among an array of other fine things. Prezzo featured in a love ballad with his then girlfriend titled "Tazama Mbele" produced by Ennovator, the producer behind Samawati productions. The video directed by Ted Josiah was a hit and went straight to the top of the East African TV chart and held for over eight weeks.
Nazizi Hirji is a hip hop/ reggae artist and is currently the most awarded Kenyan artist.
She released her first single “Ni sawa tu” when she was 16 years old making her the FIRST SUCCESSFUL FEMALE ARTIST IN EAST AFRICA. The song was an instant hit and soon enough Nazizi became a household name. It’s been more than 12 years since and Nazizi still remains one of the most popular and influential artists in the East African region. Nazizi has won 17 AWARDS WINNIG FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR 7 TIMES IN A ROW and the most recent awards being best directed video and video of the year at the CHANNEL O VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS in South Africa in 2007 for the song “kube”.She is also part of the award winning groups NECESSARY NOIZE and EAST AFRICAN BASHMENT CREW. Nazizi has curtain raised for international artists SEAN PAUL and WAYNE WONDER in Kenya, AKON in Tanzania AND Uganda, MARLON ASHER in Uganda and most recently JULIAN MARLEY and ANDREW TOSH in Ethiopia. She has toured 6 American states and 5 European countries in the last two years. Hit singles include Kenyan gal Kenyan boy, Bless my room, let’s get down, Fire anthem, Kube, Forever, Tension, jump n shout amongst others. Nazizi has also hosted the H2O TV music show with dj john on KTN and NATURAL MYSTIC a reggae show on NATION FM now EASY FM
In 2005 she represented Kenya in the AFRICA UNITE tour in Ethiopia with the Marley’s and is featured on the on the DVD which was released Feb. 2008. She is also featured on the DVD HIP HOP COLONY which focuses on the birth of hip hop in Kenya. Nazizi has also inspired a short film RASTAR that is based on a true story about her and which has been bought and aired by MNET. Nazizi is among the 5 pioneers of music in Kenya and is also known by her fans as the first lady in 2001 she became part of the group NECESSARY NOIZE with WYRE and BAMZI and in 2003 the group released their self titled album NECESSARY NOIZE , in 2005 they released their 2nd album KENYAN GAL KENYAN BOY and E.A.B.C also released their first album FIRE, adding to that, she also released her first solo album AFRICAN YOUTH in May 2008 and make a break through to the international market. A Kenyan movie called 'Ras Star', sponsored by M-NET, was partly kind of based on Necessary Noize's Nazizi's life. 'Ras Star' was the fourth M-NET New Directors Project to be done in Kenya. Nazizi also recorded several sound tracks for the film.
Moses Sali a.k.a Bebe Cool is a top African Reggea and ragga musician from Uganda. He started his career around 1997 in Nairobi, Kenya, but a few years later he moved back to his native country. Together with Redsan and his compatriot Chameleone, Bebe Cool was one of the first artists affiliated with Ogopa DJs, a production house and record label in Kenya. Two of his popular singles are "Fitina" and "Mambo Mingi".He also collaborated with Halima Namakula, a Ugandan veteran woman musician, on their crossover track "Sambagala". He has released two solo albums, Maisha and Senta. His lyrics are in Luganda, Swahili, and English. Bebe Cool has won several awards at the prestigious HiPipo Music Awards (HMA), Pearl of Africa Music Awards(PAM Awards). He was nominated for the Kora All-African Awards in 2003 and 2005. He has toured in the UK and the US.
Crazy KG, also known as King Crazy GK, is a rapper from Tanzania, who started recording in the mid-90’s, initially with Mawingu studio (producer Bonnie Luv). Born as Gwamaka Mjuni Kaihula, he takes part in the East Coast team. Some of his popular solo tracks include ‘Sister Sister’, ‘Hii Leo’ Sauti ya Manka,itikadi,komaa nao,Piga manati,Ama zangu ama zao, simba wa Africa,nitakufaje and nitakukumbuka’. In 2003 Crazy KG featured in a Tanzanian hip-hop movie called ‘Girlfriend’, alongside fellow artists TID and Jay Moe.