The return of Bongo boys, West Africa beat give way

Bongo music used to be a big hit in the early 2000s but along the way, the genre dipped and ceded ground to the West African beat, but a new wave led by Diamond has brought it back!

Dogo Aslay, who has since ditched the moniker ‘Dogo’ after coming of age, dropped a new song Nibebe. In the past one year, Aslay has released a hit every month, with his tracks easily hitting the one million mark on YouTube.

Still, the strongest member of the once popular Yamoto Band is relentless, working with Khadija Kopa, Barnaba, Nandy to name but a few, as he fights for the throne to lead the next line of Tanzanian entertainers and take over from the Diamond and Ali Kiba generation.

In July 2012, this writer interviewed Aslay after a show in Mombasa, then a shy artiste stumbling and mumbling throughout the interview at Seafront restaurant, metres away from Nyali Bridge. Then, making his second trip outside Tanzania alongside Temeke’s Mheshimimwa Temba and Chegge, he was riding high with Naenda Kusema, a song that cast the image of an innocent young lad.

“I am trying hard not to let celebrity life and fame go into my head. Girls are always embracing me wherever I go but I am still too young to engage in any sexual behaviour, let alone have a girlfriend or take alcohol,” the then 16-year old told Pulse at the time.

Then, he was Dogo Aslay, the newest and youngest member under the tutelage of Said Fella, the tycoon who is the driving force behind many artistes in the Temeke area.

Aslay was destined for greatness, and in retrospect, the big split of Yamoto in 2017 was only going to favour the child prodigy.

“When it (Yamoto) started, I wanted Aslay to hold the hands of the others so that they attain popularity. But business has changed and groups are no longer in demand. The fee for a group and an individual artiste is very different,” says Fella as he brings to light the situation that resulted in Yamoto’s break-up, with each member pointing a finger at the other.

With the estimated figures East Africa’s superstar Diamond pulls every time he does a show, it was inevitable that such a talented group would split because of finances. Diamond is said to ask for a cool Sh5 million for a show, among other demands.

“Many people are put off when they hear the fee Yamoto demands, but they can pay an individual artiste up to Tsh5 million (Sh1.8 million). We looked at the situation and decided, as management, to let each artiste earn from their own sweat,” Fella elaborates.

But did Aslay ditch less-talented artistes, or just looked at Diamond’s pull and got motivated?

Diamond is the hottest property in East Africa, and he knows it. Be it appearances, endorsements, collabos or business ventures, the 28-year old has the game locked tight. He recently caused a stir among local celebs when he was the star attraction at the launch of Safaricom’s Songa platform.

Be it his shenanigans with numerous hot women, tiff with Ali Kiba or tug of war with the Tanzanian government, Diamond has scaled the heights of stardom, and it is inevitable that the likes of Aslay and the rest follow in his steps.

Under the WCB Wasafi platform, Diamond has signed a good number of the emerging artistes, ensuring the label has the best of the cream and giving it power to organise mega concerts as a unit. Rayvanny, Mbosso, Hamonize and Rich Mavoko call the label home.

In keeping up with most celebrities globally, the bongo boys are using and ditching women like underwear. Zari, Wema Sepetu, Hamissa Mobeto, Jackie Wolper, Mishi Dora and a host of many baby mamas have warmed the beds of these boys and they seem to live for the drama. No day passes by without one lady or another making wild allegations against the WCB boys. But again, this is showbiz and theirs could be a strategy to remain on peoples’ mind in the competitive music world. 

The resurgence of Bongo music as the leading genre in East Africa is not unprecedented. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, as Ogopa Deejays set standards and Calif Records introduced a hood, the likes of Mr Blue, Mr Nice, Marlaw, Ali Kiba, Hussesin Machozi and Ferooz were ripping radios apart with their soulful bangers. Listen to any music mix of that time and bongo always found its way in, with the sexy Ray C at one point pitching tent in Kenya.

What these new boys have is the technical know-how of making hits and getting money while at it. They do sold-out tours, locally and globally, and in just under three years, they have - once again- put bongo music on a pedestal.