MAN Kifimbo
Bio
MAN Kifimbo is a reggae-Afro-fusion artist from Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Kifimbo's music can be best described with the words: "More fire!" for his music is all about igniting the flame in the hearts of the audience. Dance rhythms, memorable melodies, and lyrics with a message are the key ingredients of his music that stylistically combines elements of reggae, afro-pop, and traditional Tanzanian rhythms.
Besides being a reggae artist, Kifimbo is a master of Tanzanian traditional dance and drumming. He utilizes the skill and knowledge of the local cultural heritage as a great inspiration for his original music, fusing rhythms of the Zaramo, Makonde, Ngoni, Sindimba, Mangaka, Chikocha, Msewe etc. Other influences include the groovy pop styles of East Africa like Congolese rumba and soukous, and of course the reggae voices like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Lucky Dube. Kifimbo sings about real life: the joys, the struggles, and the inequities of society.
Kifimbo released his first full length album, Mwana Mkala, in 2020. Album was made with Kifimbo's intense 7-piece live band in collaboration with the Finnish rock'n'roll musician Baby Pelkonen. Kifimbo provided the album with the following accompanying note, that clarifies his artistry well:
”Mwana mkala” in Zalamo language means ”the hunter”. Zalamo
people have a saying: “mwana mkala hadile sunga” which means
the hunter doesn’t die in hunger” - never give up.
My music is about peace, love, happiness and also the struggles
of life that we can’t let bring us down. Brothers and sisters, never
give up, because mwanamkala hadile sunga!"