Sat. 30/11/24 - 7:00 PM until Sat. 30/11/24 - 10:00 PM Singeli Label Night
About Humboldt Forum Berlin

Singeli Label Night

“This is the new tradition. This is the new culture of Tanzania.”

Singeli is the sound of young Dar es Salaam – a hybrid mix of traditional Tanzanian music forms such as Taraab and Ngoma with electronic beats, pitched at up to 300 bpm – extremely danceable, subversive, created for the community and, like the urban space of Dar es Salaam, pulsatingly multi-layered.

Founded 15 years ago in Mburahati, a working-class district in Dar es Salaam, the Sisso Records label is the epicenter of the movement and Jay Mitta, Kadilida, Nana and Zai are absolute stars of the scene. The rough, rushed and high-pitched sound has developed from a fringe phenomenon into Tanzania's new national musical heritage. Singeli dominates local radio stations, clubs and streets in Dar es Salaam and thrills international festivals and clubs. Despite worldwide appearances, at the Nyege Nyege Festival in Uganda or the Panoramabar in Berlin, the heart of Singeli beats in Dar.

The live acts are ecstatic and legendary. Singeli artists do not work with turntables or expensive DJ equipment, but hack their sounds directly into computer keyboards. MCs fire off frenetic lyrics in Kiswahili that deal with precarious living conditions and experiences of violence, but also with passion, solidarity and the self-confidence of their own crowd - and this in clear distinction to the commercial Bongo Flava.

Line-Up

Opener:
+ Nana & Zai

Main Act:
+ Jay Mitta (DJ)
+ Kadilida (as MC)
+ with Nana and Zai as performers

Specials

+ Introductory talk: Abbas Alli Jazza (Manager)

Admission

Box office: €2.50 / €5