#TBT: Ali Kiba's advice to musicians in the spotlight

 Ali Kiba was featured in the Pulse on Friday, October 19th 2007, in the “In The Spotlight” section.

Few Bongo flava artistes have staying power. Getting to the top is one thing. Staying on top is another matter altogether. What with all the upcoming musicians jostling for that space that’s the size of a needle’s point.

Cue in Mr. Nice. Ze Anto. Matonya. Juma Nature. TID.

But there are artistes who stay on top, regardless of the tidal waves from newer musicians. One such artiste, Ali Kiba was featured in the Pulse on Friday, October 19th 2007, in the “In The Spotlight” section.

When asked how he had managed to sneak to the top of Tanzania’s showbiz industry and become the country’s highest riding artiste, he replied that he had put in some work. He was not an overnight success. He had been around since 2004, but it was his song, Cinderella, which was on high-rotation in East Africa, which catapulted him to the top.

Which should tell upcoming artistes that, at times, one makes a hit after making several misses. That, as someone once said, “Luck favours the prepared mind”. That they should keep making good music, and learning the ropes, and reinventing and bidding their time ... and it’s going to happen when it’s going to happen.

Then there was the question about Ali Kiba being embroiled in a court battle because, allegedly, he stole Cinderella from another musician.

“Word has it that the song is not your composition,” Pulse asked him. “Can you confirm this?”

“That is what Tanzanian tabloids have been reporting but there is nothing true about the story,” the singer replied. “It’s all lies. I wrote the song and recorded it two years ago. Some months later, a guy went to the court claiming that I had stolen his song. It’s been a big battle since then.”

That’s another learning curve for musicians. The golden rule is, “Do the right thing”. Haters may try to poop on your fame, but if you know that you did the right thing, and then you can rest easy, return to the studio and keep them hits coming.

And Ali Kiba has done just that. Dropping hit after hit. Getting bigger and better. Which somewhat vindicates him.

One of the best gems that Ali Kiba dished to artistes, especially his Bongo colleagues, who are wont to finish high school, was that education and music go hand-in-glove.

“I consider education a fundamental thing in life,” he said. “I am looking forward to joining university any time next year.”

And lastly, here’s Kiba’s advice to other musicians, from nine years ago. Which will still ring true nine lifetimes to come: “I am a simple man. I’m staying focussed. I don’t want pride to overtake me like many Tanzanian artistes who are one-hit wonders. Music is my life.”

Simplicity. Focus. Humility.

Mark my words. Ignore the “triple threat” and you just might be the cockup in Ali Kiba’s sneak attack track, Mac Muga.

Now, cue in Bongo flava musicians – and, for good measure, locals - who have been brought down by disregarding the “triple threats”...