Mlimani Park Orchestra's Sikinde--Treasure From Tanzania

Sikinde is a fantastic album from Tanzanian band Mlimani Park Orchestra released on the Detroit label Africassette. This is a completely captivating African big band recording (26 members!), replete with horns, multiple vocalists, delightfully languid guitar playing, and lively production. According to the front cover, they are Tanzania's Number One Dance band, and I don't doubt it for a minute. The lyrics are sung in Swahili--although the liner notes don't contain the full lyrics, the basic meaning of the songs are explained with a small bit of detail. The band was originally founded in 1978 in Dar es Salaam. Most of the songs on Sikinde are over 6 minutes long, which is understandable. Mlimani Park Orchestra performed on the club circuit so the songs are for dancing and partying. These guys obviously aim to please.

The album is chock full of great songs. Neema (My Comforter) is sung with energetic confident vocals by Cosmas Tobias Chidumule. Wonderful guitar breaks and horn lines. Radio Tanzania's listeners voted this as song of the year two years in a rowin the 1980's, narrowly defeating Rick Astley (just kidding). Listening to Neema just makes me happier. Tucheze Sikinde (Let's Dance Sikinde) is sung by Hassani Bitchuka, who was the most popular singer in Tanzania at that time. It seems that the band maintains a rotating cast of vocalists. The actual leader of Mlimani is "King"' Michael Enoch as composer, arranger, guitarist and saxophonist. And he definitely has managed to surround himself with accomplished musicians. Though the band performs in a certain style, there is a lot variation and interesting riffing going on, with the music falling somewhere between the southern music of Zimbabwe and the rhumba music of Central Africa. I'm probably full of crap on that last description, but that seems to be at least what my ears are hearing.

Other great songs include the soulful Nalala Kwa Taabu (I Sleep In Distress), a song about poverty, and the odd Mtoto Akililia Wembe (If A Child Cries For The Razorblade). The latter song is an African proverb (if he wants a razorblade, give it to him) that cautions parents that they have to let their child experience life, and then learn from their own mistakes. I could extol every track here--we're talking pop music heaven. Intricate music made by musical virtuosos at the top of their game. So much exuberance on this album. Good time music. And you know if you saw them live, they would knock your socks off.



Credit goes to Africassette for releasing this Cd and introducing us to this music that was a secret to most of the world. I don't know very much about the label, but it seems to be a fairly small operation. They are in this because they love the music and they deserve to be rewarded as such. But in the music business, the contrary is often the case. Africassette probably took a lot of financial risk on in order to put this recording out. These are the good guys, who are fighting the good fight for us music fanatics. Check out the website, and see what they have to offer. In addition to Mlimani Park Orchestra, there are a lot of other worthy recordings, including four other Africassette releases. I have my eye on the Musika Wa Dansi Tanzanian comp, which looks to be top notch. But if you love African music, or just like to listen to great music from anywhere, at least give the site a look. Support the good guys. Keep great music alive.