A SHORT HISTORY OF TANGA’S ATOMIC JAZZ BAND

Tanzania yetu, ndio nchi ya kusifiwa,
Kote ulimwenguni watu wote watambua.

Those are lines from the lyrics of the popular song Tanzania yetu nchi ya furaha. The popularity of this song has led many young musicians to record it, and some have even run into trouble for recording it without obtaining permission from the composers. This song was first recorded by the Atomic Jazz Band in 1967, and its composer was Stephen Hiza, who is still alive and continues to pursue music in the city of Tanga.

The Atomic Jazz Band was founded in 1954. Its founders, Julius Kilua and John Kilua, along with a partner whose second name has been forgotten, named Dismas. Initially called their band the Tik Tak Jazz Band. A few years later, but before Tanganyika’s independence in 1961, the band changed its name to Atomic Jazz Band. As was customary at the time, the band was run as a club. Some of the elders of the club included an older man nicknamed Mzee Morimori, whose real name was Mzee Haji. Other elders in the club were Badi Kidashari, Abdallah Kaungwa, and Salim Msema.

The band featured local musicians as well as foreigners from Kenya and Congo. One of the band’s famous singers in the early sixties was Kamaru, who likely came from Kenya. When Kamaru suddenly left the band in 1965, two young singers, Stephen Hizza and Ziggi Said, joined the band. They came from smaller bands that existed then in Tanga.

As was typical in those years, after accumulating enough songs, the band entered the Radio Tanzania Dar es Salaam studios and recorded several songs, including Lililokuwa na Mwanzo, Lipi Jema Duniani,  and Tanzania Motomoto. These songs introduced the Atomic Jazz Band to a wider audience. They began touring various regions of Tanzania and even traveled to Kenya for music tours and recordings.

When they entered the studio again in 1967, the famous song Tanzania Yetu Nchi ya Furaha was recorded. Other songs recorded during this time included Leo Nakupasulia and Ewe Hafidha Wangu  (a song whose introductory solo piece was used by a Norwegian film company as part of their movie’s soundtrack). At that time, the band members included John Mbula on saxophone, John Kilua on conga, Gislan Dejean (Mkongo) on bass guitar, Harrison Siwale on rhythm guitar, and Hassan Ngoma on lead guitar.

As was common for bands during that era, musicians moved from one band to another for various reasons, including personal interests and sometimes to gain more experience or play in a band whose music they preferred. Billy Mbwana, Harrison Siwale, Hassan Ngoma, and Twaha Shabani left the band at different times. Their positions were filled by other musicians such as Rodgers Isaac, John Kijiko, Mohamed Mgoro, and Mganga Hemed.

During the period when John Kijiko joined the Atomic Jazz Band, songs that are still remembered today were recorded, including Nakujutia Salima, Lina, and Mado Mpenzi (this song was registered as John Kijiko’s composition but was actually written by a young student who wanted to be a musician but was forbidden by his parents. To this day, the composer is only known to his friends as Mado.

The years 1977 and 1978 were challenging for the Atomic Jazz Band, as several musicians left. Mganga Hemed joined Urafiki Jazz Band, while John Mbula, John Kijiko, and Rodger Isaac moved to UDA Jazz Band. Mohamed Mgoro joined the Polisi Jazz Band. This marked the beginning of the end for Atomic Jazz Band. Guitarist Patrick Kamale filled John Kijiko’s shoes until the band eventually faded from the music scene.