The youthful Vijana Jazz was one of the super groups that came out of Tanzania in the 1970’s. Others included Afro 70, Western Jazz, Orchestra Makassy, and were mainly formed of youth of Dar es Salaam who were experimenting with the soft Rumba sounds coming out of the Congo DRC, and Benga the hard-hitting rhythms of Lake Victoria.
Vijana were based in Dar es Salaam and came under the management of Umoja wa Vijana, the youth wing of TANU (Tanzania African National Union) Party. Head of TANU, Head of Tanzania, was Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and he loved his new, exciting, promising youth, of his new exciting, promising country. The songs here were all hits of their days. “Utatungombanisha” was the dance floor call. Go for it. Their songs put together by Hamedi Maneti and Hamza Kalala, and belted out by a 14-strong band were irresistible. They still are, and still fill the dance floors of Africa’s night clubs, even up to today