Baraka Issabu
PIANO / HARMONY / KEYBOARD HARMONY / MELODIC READING
Baraka Issabu, a multifaceted individual, is renowned as a Music Educator, composer, arranger, and producer. His profound connection to music resonates through his fingertips, where passion and soul intertwine, making him one of Dar es Salaam’s foremost pianists.
He is the Co-founder and the Executive Director of Action Music Academy, a pioneering institution in Dar es Salaam. This esteemed music school, established in partnership with the Global Music Academy Berlin and Goethe-Institut Tanzania, provides a unique platform for aspiring musicians to nurture their talents.
Baraka’s musical journey began at the University of Dar es Salaam, where he studied Music with the Department of Creative Arts from 2006 to 2009. Seeking further growth, he embarked on a transformative experience in 2015 by joining the East Africa Global Music Campus. This program, co-funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union and the Goethe-Institut, is organized and facilitated by the esteemed Global Music Academy in Berlin, Germany. The East African Global Music Campus empowers gifted young musicians by equipping them with skills in performance, composition, notation, documentation, and cultural transmission. By honing their craft, these musicians are empowered to thrive in local and interregional markets, contributing to the development of a vibrant and diverse music sector. Baraka’s remarkable talent has afforded him the opportunity to collaborate and perform with a diverse array of local and international artists. His captivating performances have graced prominent festivals such as Jahazi Literary & Jazz Festival, Sauti za Busara, Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), Poetry Addiction, and Fiesta. Sharing the stage with renowned artists like Fid Q, Weusi, Ben Paul, Vanessa Mdee, Damian Sol, and numerous others, Baraka’s musical prowess has left an indelible mark on the Tanzanian music scene
Simon Costa Sichula
GUITAR
Simon is an experienced young guitarist who performs regularly in Dar es Salaam and around Tanzania working with popular gospel musicians like Tina Mwang’onda and Martha Lata but also further afield in Zambia and Ethiopia. Apart from the guitar he also plays bass and works as a vocal teacher. He studied at the Music Mayday Sound of Tomorrow program where he graduated with a music certificate in 2016. He is also part of the AMTZ teaching team taking part in the East African Global Music Campus in Ethiopia co-funded by the European Union and the Goethe-Institut.
Leonard Oscar Tzakayoya
BASS
Leonard is one of the hardest working bass players in Dar es Salaam and has performed with some of the most well known bands in Tanzania including Wakwetu Jazz Band and Dazz Jazz. Leonard spent many years studying the bass privately and is currently a member of the AMTZ teaching team studying on the East African Global Music Campus program in Ethiopia. He has also taken part in various international projects including the Music Crossroads program in Mozambique.
Moses Zamangwa
SAXOPHONE
Moses is in high demand as a saxophonist in Dar es Salaam. Apart from performing with his own afro-jazz band performing at clubs and festivals like the Karibu Music Festival and the Dawati Festival. He is also an expert in the rumba, latin & gospel styles. He also has a busy teaching schedule and recently took part in the Police Brass Band workshop in Dar es Salaam as the saxophone tutor. He worked for many years as saxophonist in the band for the renowned Mother Africa Circus with artists, acrobats and dancers from 9 African countries and toured Germany, Switzerland, Lithuania, Indonesia, Qatar and Turkey with them. He also works for the Phenix le Cirque in France and has toured Australia with Cirque Africa. He has recorded two CDs under his own name, Yote Kwa Yesu and Afrika Yetu and is part of the teaching team taking part in the East African Global Music Campus program in Ethiopia.
Upendo Manase
VOICE
Upendo one of the most promising young singers to emerge from Dar es Salaam in recent years. She regularly performs gospel music as a solo artist and also in the Kigogo church choir. She started singing at a young age in the church choir and graduated from the Music Mayday Sound of Tomorrow program with a music certificate in 2016. She is a member of the AMTZ teaching team studying at the East African Global Music Campus in Ethiopia where she is working with the renowned Zimbabwean singer Prudence Katomene. Upendo is currently working on the production of her own Afro-Fusion album due to be released shortly.
Jafary Nassoro Sefu
PERCUSSION / DRUMS
Jafary is a versatile performer being equally at home on percussion or drums and playing a wide variety of styles from Afro-Fusion through Reggae to Gospel. He has performed with a wide variety of local and international artists at Festivals like Mzalando Halisi Festival, Sauti sa Busara, Karibu Music Festival, ZIFF including Mwela Band, Mabantu Band, Aba Bong Band, Andrew Ashimba, Maharaba Band, Ras Mizzi, Ras Bumijah, Cocodo Band from Tanzania as well as Lavosta from Kenya, Pampi Judah from Jamaica, D Bass and Sibusile Xaba from South Africa and the Ugandan artist Ssali Muserebende. He recently recorded and performed with the Gospel artist Joel Lwaga. Jafary began his musical studies in 2010 when he joined the Mwela Theatre Group. He started learning to play a range of different Tanzanian traditional drums. He was inspired to start learning drum kit after hearing Abdala Membe. The experience playing traditional drums helped him a lot. In 2013 he won a scholarship to study music at Music Mayday and became a merit student there. He also took part in the Umoja Flying Carpet Cultural Exchange Program in 2014 and the East Africa Vibes Workshop with Oliver Mutukudzi and Eric Wainana before joining the training team for the Global Music Campus in Ethiopia in 2017.
Aliko Edson Mwakanjuki
DRUMS / RHYTHMIC READING & WRITING
Aliko Mwakanjuki is a Professional Arts Manager, connoisseur of African Music.
He now works as the projects coordinator for Action Music Academy.
Aliko has managed various world music festivals, concerts and seminars to raise awareness and promote cultural solidarity in Africa.
He relocated from Finland after his formal Education, to Zanzibar in 2010 and worked for a number of arts and music organization including Busara Promotions as a Media coordinator, Cultural Arts Center Makumira University Research , Artistic Director, British Council Tanzania East Africa Arts Manager and Dhow countries Music Academy Fundraising manager.
Alikos’s work in managing Arts in Tanzania is focused on strengthening, building networks,appreciation for African music and developing local skills in the music world.
Earlier in his career Aliko worked in the arts field both at the front stage as an artist and behind the scenes on management in many different countries including UK, Finland Sweden and Russia he also Toured and assisted in overall festival organization, He founded Fest Africa African music festival in 2002.
He also worked as an Artist and consultant that resulted to 5 doctorial performances for a doctorial research in folk music entitled: “Original artistry and creative fusion of Ngoma with Finnish folk music and dance”, 2009
Aliko’s Artistic career spans as a Musician, African dance Drummer, Manager and Tutor both in the Diaspora and Tanzania.
