The artistic production of an eclectic Tanzanian man involved in community building

What is it about?

Based on private papers and life history interviews conducted in a shack in Buguruni (Dar es Salaam), this paper focuses on the artistic production of mzee W.O. Nyange, a Tanzanian man with a multifaceted career: 'dansi' guitarist in the prominent Cuban Marimba Jazz Band, healer and herbalist, composer of didactic lyrics accompanied by tunes for guitar music, and staunch promoter of community-building.

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Why is it important?

By focusing on the life history of a remarkable yet underprivileged individual who has been a dansi musician, poet and healer, this article shows that the trajectory of mzee Waziri Omari Nyange can shed new light on the broader process of self-making and community-building in Tanzania.