All Ally Can Be

By David Odongo 

A few months ago, Ally B shocked the showbiz scene when he said he had been bewitched. The Mombasa-based artiste, known for his frankly soulful music said he has been sickly but the doctors could not find anything wrong with him.

“My condition worsened whenever I was scheduled to perform. I believe somebody somewhere didn’t want my career to flourish” Ally B told Pulse during an exclusive interview.

Few months down the line, Ally B’s ailment disappeared and his career is flourishing.

“I believe in God, not in witchcraft and I don’t think I will ever be affected by witchcraft,” says Ally B, with a finality that puts an end to the subject.

Still, there is the touchy subject of his relationship with songbird Nyota Ndogo. The rumour mills have been on overdrive about the state of his relationship with the fellow Coast-based artiste. The grapevine was rife that the two singers were involved in a steamy love affair yet they are both married. Ally B rubbishes these claims.

“Let me set the record straight, Nyota Ndogo is a good friend. Our relationship is strictly professional. We gel well with each other and that’s it,” asserts the soft-spoken star.

He reveals that he is happily married to the woman of his dreams and would not dare cheat on her.

NEW COLLABO WITH PREZZO

“ Nyota is a friend I respect so much and it makes me sad to see people drag her name into such untruths,” says the Ni Wangu hit maker.

Arguably Mombasa’s finest artiste, Ali B has won over many music lovers’ hearts with his smooth taarab-laced music.

Lately, most of his focus has been on collabos with Nairobi-based artistes. However, he says his plan is not only to win over the Nairobi audience.

“I focus on music that cuts across generations. I don’t want my music to target a specific market. It is made for everybody, including the international audience,” he notes.

 The singer has won every possible music award in the Coast and was part of the nationwide Safaricom Live Initiative.

After collaborating with Size 8 to produce the melodious Silali late last year, last week, he released his latest single  Mimi na Wee — another collabo, this time featuring Prezzo.

“We first met at the Gallileo Club and after a deliberation, we decided to go to Homeboyz and do the track,” he recalls.

The award-winning artiste regards a performance in State House as one of his proudest moments.

private state house show

“The biggest surprise I got was when I was called to State House to perform for the President and other delegates during the All African Tea Conference. I was the only invited artiste,” he recounts.

In 2009, Ally B won the Best Male Artiste and Song of the Year diadems at the Nzumari Music awards. He was again nominated at the 2010 fete and took the gongs for Best Male Artiste and Best Musical Performer.

“I am just focused on doing good music and getting more hits out. I have no time for the trivial fame-seeking gimmicks other musicians do. My music speaks for me,” remarks the laid-back Ally B. The success of his debut single Maria endeared him to many and so far, he has released several hits amongst them Roho Juu, Mikono Juu, Niwe Nawe, Ni Wangu and Kadzo.