Kauzeni Lyamba the artist with a mission

By Sanaa & Culture

Mid last year I had the chance to sit with one talented musician who’s passionate about his craft. However what sets him apart despite his young age is his passion for teaching art.

This article is dedicated to his father who coincidentally was present whilst I conducted this interview with him. Now his spirit is back with the ALL, and I’m sure Kauzeni Lyamba has one more angel in heaven.

When did you first know you’ll be a musician?

Since I was in primary school at Kisutu (Dar es Salaam) in the early 90’s, I knew I was an artist. This was brought by the fact that I was always drawn to all the art activities. Like being in the music group in grade 2 to 3 where we’ll urge students to clean the school grounds.

I was picked to join the school band in 1994; I was only in grade 2 the qualification was grade 3 on-wards. Still one of the older members had seen I was quick to learn the ‘filimbi’ (whistle) and older students weren't as adept.

Since then in school, I was involved in the schools theater performances which included dance, choir, poetry and acting.

Pertaining to your art adventures in school can you tell us of one unforgettable experience?
Back then, I think they've stopped now which is a shame. Prof Lihamba from UDSM was responsible for an annual concert that would involve all primary schools from the country titled ‘Tamasha la Watoto. Here each school would perform their best skits to include dance, acting and song.

Eventually they wouldn't announce winners according to schools but according to individual artists. One year I won ‘Best Drummer’ in my age category for the whole country; it was such a highlight.

How did you end up going to Bagamoyo College of Arts?

I was privileged to attain my Secondary education in Kampala, Uganda at Nkumba Senior Sec School. It was the first time here that I picked up the sax, and again I got involved in the art programs at school specifically those with traditional African roots.
When it was time to join college it was my father here who helped me best in getting picked for TASUBA (Bagamoyo College of Arts).

To which the father added (all awhile he was sitting quietly whilst I was interviewing Kauzeni).

'He was adamant that he wanted to study in an art college, I had a friend teaching there and after learning the procedures. I took him for an interview, he passed with flying colors. I was very impressed that in just his second year he was already picked to go play with the representing team from the TASUBA College for international concerts in Europe.' Dr JK Lyamba enthusiastically explained .

The main reason I was inspired to go to TASUBA was because of musicians from Tanzania; who I admired since I was a young who had studied here. Like the late Omary Naliene from the ‘Tatu Nane band’ who taught me the flute and Lazaro Kayombo who taught me drums and percussion.

Is it fair to say you’re passionate about teaching music?

Yes, my research paper before I graduated was titled ‘The need for developing African dance for the children”. I graduated in 2009 and since then I've been blessed to travel to several countries around the globe to perform, teach and participate in workshops including Denmark, USA, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands and South Africa.

What teaching projects that you've been involved in have totally excited you?

There’s 'UMOJA Cultural Flying Carpet' which has had me in the management for Tanzania since 2011 till present. UMOJA is an initiative by the Norwegian Government to unite different cultures via art.

It involves two camps there’s the ‘Eastern Carpet’ and Southern Carpet. The Eastern Carpet is where Tanzania belongs as well as Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia. For three years now we’re hosting the camp where artists from these countries meet to produce one show.Sourcing and working with 15 artists from all over Tanzania to produce a show of one hour with everything from acting to singing and acrobatics.It has been a real exciting experience for me and I've learned a lot.

Kauzeni Lyamba (second from right) with the artists
and teachers from UMOJA'TZ in 2012.
They may look rough but I tell you pale namwona
Bw Fimbo (ngoma maestro) and the dude
with crazy dreads is sick on the violin teaching in ZNZ

Apart from UMOJA, I was a part of a workshop in 2010 ‘Pilot Compass Action Africa’ supplied at the University of Dar es Salaam and sponsored by ‘Global Music Network’ from Germany. Here I was with other musicians and music teachers from Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The aim was to update ourselves in keeping current to the needs of the music students in our African environments. From this workshop I continued teaching music to a handful of students mostly private.

Then in 2012, all participants of the workshop in 2010 were asked to another workshop in Soweto, South Africa by the same sponsors. Here we were given a syllabus made by music professors from Germany who had taken into account the findings from the last workshop in curtailing an international standard syllabus for our distinct African countries.

This syllabus and the workshop got me real excited and since I've been back from it. I've embarked on a project to facilitate a music learning center of my own with the help of Paul Nduguru (Illustrator, Fine artist and Musician) and Juma Tearish (Business Consultant).

Kauzeni with his father (the late Dr K. Lyamba
on the 8th of June 2013 when I conducted this interview)

This is a long term project so far I've leased a building and we’re in the process of renovating it. Then it will be sourcing teachers and teaching them the syllabus so they can be effective to teach art to students who don’t always qualify to the one route of tertiary learning for art students in Tanzania which is TASUBA (Bagamoyo Arts College) then FPA (Fine and Performing Art in UDSM).

We’ll be teaching Traditional and Contemporary African Dance (this was my major in College). Also we’ll be teaching music instruments and theory. ‘Mpumwende’ is the registered name for the center. It means (a real kick ass performance) in Kiswahili.

Sounds like you have your hands full, what do you see as the main challenges in the music industry in Tanzania?

Outside the allocated plot for 'Mpumwende' an Art Center
for teaching art-Kauzeni getting his fathers blessing...

I was lucky to have studied music from an early time in my life. Today much of the public schools have no art in their syllabus. Further more from the workshops and studies I've done so far it’s obtained that there’s almost 2 million artists in the country. Still among these only 5% are trained while the rest are just talented.

The reason I respected the syllabus we came up with in Soweto, is it allows any member to join and learn vital skills and later qualify to any major Art University in the world. Plus we'll be giving more artists the respect they deserve to foster a healthy working environment for artists of all fields in the country.

Well we sure wish ‘Mpumwende’ all the best till currently renovations are still going on, at the plot obtained which is in Dar es Salaam close to Changanyikeni area. It can't hurt to have more art centers in the country.