Scrolling the pages of 'If She were Alive'

 By Caroline Uliwa

Photo courtsey of Lubacha Deus

You don’t appreciate the importance of representation until its implementation soothes your psyche. I am referring to witnessing characters in works of art from various parts of the world, not only from those in affluent societies. If She were Alive is a young adult novel by Lubacha Deus, going through it was endearing in the way it painted scenes of villages in Tanzania.

In this novel Lubacha has a good command of plot and conflict, as from the onset our main character Wema. A 12 year old Sukuma girl from a village in Mwanza, pulls your heart strings to keep on turning the pages quickly so you learn of her fate.

“I have no money mama. I didn’t intend to do this. Naomba nisamahe! Please forgive me.” “Forgive you? Will you buy them back?”…Wema was now crying. “You see? You can’t buy them back and you want me to forgive you? And why did you tell your father that I took the money? Today you’re not going to eat, I swear. Go and bring a cane. Now!” excerpt from If She were Alive by Lubacha Deus.

Wema goes through a lot for a girl her age beginning with the loss of her mother. Which leaves her at the hands of her step mother (the father had two wives) she is the one Wema is having a dialogue with above after Wema accidentally breaks some dishes.

Lubacha just about succeeds in ensuring this book isn’t a complete sob story by placing a careful balance. Between the conflicts which include heavy canning, jail time, homelessness, poverty with candid depictions of everyday life in the village. This is also supported by the way the description of the burdens facing the characters is done swiftly not dragged out for days.

“She went to sit under the nearby big tree nicknamed Gamboshi because it was equated to witches’ headquarters according to Sukuma tribal stories. This tree was unusually green throughout the year and its branches spread downward like the flying eagle.” From the novel If She were Alive.

This book makes for a good read particularly for those aged between 12 & 17 yrs, I finished it within a day. My only qualm with it is how its theme based on the importance of girl’s education and the perils of poverty. Was hammered a little too thick for a fiction read, take the ending for an example. This novel has one of those ambiguous endings but sadly instead of it passing as artistic license. It reeks of advocacy and so somewhere you’re quickly reminded this is a tale, instead of being truly immersed in the world of Wema at Kolomije village.

If She were Alive was sponsored by the CODE Burt Award for African Young Adult LIterature published in 2019 by Mkuki na Nyota. It’s available at TPH bookstores in Tanzania as well on order from these websites Mkuki na Nyota, Amazon  and the African Book Collective .

n.b. this article was first published in The East African newspaper on the 26th of March-1st April 2022 edition

Bahati Female Band paving the way for female musicians

 By Caroline Uliwa

Members of Bahati Female Band dancing on stage
at the Sauti za Busara Festival 2022

Worldwide the music industry is heavily male dominated, indeed in Tanzania to chance on a full band with only female performers is rare. Yet this is the case with ‘Bahati Female Band (BFB)’ founded in March 2020 with Pili Maguzo as its director. It includes eleven regular members with four more on call. 

The band in its short tenure has already been featured in this year’s Sauti za Busara festival, with its first big break occurring. When they were asked to perform at the ‘Malkia wa Nguvu’ (Mighty Queens) award ceremony in Dar es Salaam last year, since then they have been steadily gaining ground until they met with government function gigs, some of which have seen them performing in front of the President of Tanzania Hon Samia Suluhu.

A sit down with three of the members of the band including Pili, had me uncover some special building blocks to this union. “I recall at the beginning speaking with band members saying they’re not sure they could do this. I answered as long as we’re together bearing in mind we could all use a brush up of our skills, we can learn and make it. Sure enough soon after we got help from teachers like Kauzeni Lyamba who was among the first supporters of this band.” Pili reveals. 

Members of Bahati Female Band with their leader
Pili Maguzo (second back row from left) from Tanzania

Pili is an experienced dancer & choreographer before forming this band she was part of Bahati Arts Group a traditional/contemporary dance & theatre group for social outreach. With time she saw an opportunity to evolve the group, by revamping it and inviting female artists to form BFB. The recruitment process involved call up’s of known musicians in her networks but as well scourging social media for talent through auditions which is how she met Nipaeli. 

“I was called then asked to send some videos which I did, I had learned to play the piano from Turn around Music Academy, Music Mayday and later to gain my ABRSM music theory certificates I enrolled at Little Fingers after Music Mayday closed.” Nipaeli Mtana shares how she came to be a member of BFB. Nipaeli has a physical disability with her legs such she uses a wheelchair. It was the intention of the leaders of the band to bring more inclusivity to this group and so BFB has more than two members with a disability.

BFB performs ‘Afro Fusion’ music where the traditional instruments of Zeze & Kalimba replace the lead guitar to form unique sounds. BFB core members include Doris Kivinge (base player, dancer), Nipaeli (Keyboardist), Brightan Richard (Drummer, percussionist), Mary Mshana (singer), Grace (Big Zeze, Singer), Leah Ndehani (Kalimba, singer, percussionist), Sharapova (singer), Taj Baraka (Bassist), Esther (keyboardist, drummer), Mariam (drummer) and Neema Paul (singer).  

From left Brightan, Nipaeli, Leah on the Kalimba, Grace on the Zeze, Taji Baraka on the
Base with Mary & Neema singing

“I learned the base guitar from pestering fellow musicians like Sam Mpangala, Macha & Kauzeni. I sincerely appreciate them as well I’ve attended workshops and learned online. What pleases me the most about BFB is our camaraderie, when I enter our rehearsals any stress of the day goes away, I get to laugh learn and be part of a team that truly cares for one another.” Doris adds on why her time with BFB has been a plus. 

In the beginning when the band was looking to rehearse it was tough as they didn’t have any instruments. Thankfully one of their patrons Mme Carola Kinasha supplied them with instruments; they weren’t in good shape but BFB is very grateful for them, as they allowed them to hone their skills & create songs of their own. BFB has a board with its registration with BASATA (National Arts Council TZ), the board met inclusive of patrons like John Kitime. Where letters were drafted and sent to several sponsors asking for contributions to allow the band to officially launch itself to the public. Thankfully the first letter to be answered was from the state house, where the President herself Hon Mme Samia gifted the band with a full set of new music instruments including speakers. 

Members of Bahati Female Band, performing at a government event recently

"We were so so happy, at the state house the President asked us to test the instruments for a day first to see if they fit or should be returned. Thankfully we used them and told her people they were fine.”Pili shares of this milestone that has allowed the band to continue to thrive, as now they no longer need to hire instruments for their shows. Already this year they were nominated for best traditional song of the year in the Tanzania Music Awards

In tabling the challenges that they currently face, the band is keen to continue to grow and is calling for music teachers who are willing to volunteer their skills to please visit the band. As well BFB welcomes young female musicians to their space to learn and or to get advice. Their road however isn’t smooth as members like Nipaeli find themselves with special needs as Pili highlights “We would love to get a wheelchair for Nipaeli the one she uses the tires are all but gone, plus public transport for my disabled members is many times not an option and this cuts our budget.”

Indeed if you would like to contribute to this band you can reach them via this link BFB Instagram. Otherwise you can currently catch their performances on YouTube by searching ‘Bahati Female Band’.  

n.b. this article was first published in the EastAfrican newspaper on the 19th-25th  of March 2022 edition