When
it comes to money, Bongo music is one of the most lucrative but you’d
never tell that listening to the artistes pour their hearts out for
their loved ones. Bongo Flavour acts rake in the money in truck loads
and they don’t spend it on bling only, they invest their money. Sylvia
Ambani and Herieth Makwetta looked at some of the richest acts in
Tanzania.
1. NASEEB ABDUL (DIAMOND)
He
is one of the most expensive musicians not just in Tanzania but the
region and this does not seem to put promoters off as he is on the stage
on a weekly basis. Want him for a show, you will have to pay him $4000
(Sh350,000). And that’s after a bargain.
This
has enabled him to make a fortune for himself in a very short period of
time. He owns mansions in Tanzania, acres of land, cars and shops.
JOSEPH HAULE (PROFESSOR JAY)
He began his music career in 1990 with a group called the Hard Blasters. It is this band that started the music style known as ‘muziki wa kizazi kipya’. The artiste has acquired his wealth through the many shows he does internationally.
He
owns a beachfront mansion which has an in-built studio, drives a modest
Toyota Spacio but don’t let that fool you, it’s not that he can’t
afford fuel because he makes good money from his music and owns several
parcels of land and is also a serious investor.
JUDITH WAMBURA (LADY JAY DEE)
She
started her music career at the end of the 1999. She is one of the most
respected Tanzanian artistes and has remained humble through her
success. She is very hard working and this has led her to accumulate a
good fortune to her name.
Her
garage pays homage to a Nissan Murano, a Toyota Coaster minibus, Toyota
Prado among others. She of course can’t own all those and rent. She
owns a mansion. She also invests heavily and owns a band by the name
Machozi.
AMBWENE YESAYA (AY)
He
started his music career back in 2000 with the group East Coast. The
group later split and he continued to do his solo music together with
his close friend Hamisi Mwinjuma (Mwana FA). They are still close
friends and have been friends for more than ten years.
AY
likes to keep his personal life private and stays away as much as he
can from the cameras. All the camera shyness may fool you but he is one
of the richest artistes in Tanzania. He has derived his wealth from the
many shows he does and the international events that pay him handsomely.
He has a collection of cars, a clothing line with his name and several
boutiques.
He is the owner of Unity Entertainment Company which produces programmes like the famous ‘Mkasi’
which is broadcasted on East Africa Television. He recently did a
collabo with Lil Romeo that got some good reception across the
continent.
JUMA NATURE (KIROBOTO)
He
is one of the long timers who are still relevant in the music scene. He
has been able to make a name for himself since his days in the male
group artists TMK when he was under Mkubwa Fela. He later left and
formed his own group called ‘Wanaume Halisi’.
He owns a fleet of taxis that operate in Dar es Salaam; he owns acres of land and a home.
Source: DAILY NATION
Source: DAILY NATION