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Muhidini Gurumo: Still making a big contribution to the music industry at 66
2007-07-29 09:57:54
By Adam Fungamwango
Walking slowly and limping because of the gout disease he has been suffering from for several months now, he nevertheless looks ready to carry on singing.
That is none other than 66-year-old Muhidini Maalim Gurumo a veteran musician who has made an outstanding contribution to the music industry in Tanzania. Bald headed, slightly tall and fat, Gurumo carries all features of a man to reckon with as far as music is concerned.
He is 66 but from the outlook due to his actual appearance--strength, jovialness and attire, you would think he is 40 or 50. When I called on him at his Amana offices in Dar es Salaam last week, he looked extremely happy and charming.
``You are most welcome Mr `Reporter`, have a seat,`` he said in his gentle, soprano voice. I began straightaway by asking him the secret behind his success compared to other musicians of his age, some of them living, but retired and others long gone.
Gurumo, the oldest of all practising musicians in the country said there was a big difference between the music of their era and that of today.
He says in those days there were no adequate music equipment and materials. Yet, the musicians using the few instruments they had managed to release beautiful hits which even when played today still attract the attention of many, young and old alike.
He laments that, todate despite having a lot of modern equipment and materials, the musicians fail to make use of the instruments and end up releasing hits of low quality with no message at all.
He says musicians of his time were disciplined, and composed songs with a message which could stay on the market for a considerable time without losing taste.
``While on stage, we made sure the sound of different music instruments and voices were perfectly and distinctively heard``, says Gurumo. He adds that the media then did a commendable job to control immoral songs to the society contrary to the situation now.
The secret behind their success was that first of all there were no children in the music line ups, all were adults.
As such it was easy to maintain discipline amongst themselves. ``There could be some disputes, but these quite often involved musicians of different bands and not of the same band as is the case today, ``he asserted.
As for their livelihood, Gurumo says musicians of his time were poor but had self esteem, contrary to many of the present day musicians who have money accrued from their business but lack the talent and vision.
He says music as a career has enabled him build more than two residential houses in Dar es Salaam and purchase a one-acre farm at his home village in Masaki in Kisarawe, Coast Region.
Lack of education usually leads to poor life. But to Gurumo the story is different. It has propelled him to an acceptable lifestyle. ``I have no academic qualification but I have music. That is where my talent given to me by God lies and I highly respect it ,`` he says.
``I developed interest in music in 1961 when I started singing and until today I am still singing and can do so for 10 more years if I`ll be still alive because I strictly observe the music rules,`` he says.
He says the regulations include having an ample time to rest especially during the day, take recommended diet with fruits and milk.
``You can just imagine, a musician accomplishes his music performance at night, then during the day instead of taking a rest, he engages in activities that consume his energy such as excessive drinking and smoking.
This kind of musician can`t stay in the profession for long,`` he says. ``I have categorically set Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays as days to stay with my family and use other days for practising whereas other musicians don`t do that,`` he says, adding, ``I haven`t taken any herb as it`s been rumoured, …just self upkeep.
Gurumo the oldest musician in the country started playing music when he was 20 years old and first joined Kilimanjaro Chacha band, before moving to Kilwa Jazz. He later moved to Rufiji Jazz who he says bought him for 110/- before joining National Union of Tanganyika Workers (NUTA) in the early 1960s.
In 1978 Gurumo left NUTA which then changed its title to JUWATA (Union of Tanzania Workers) to establish Mlimani Park Ochestra.
Not so long afterwards he too left to join O\'rchestra Safari Sound, OSS in 1985 before rejoining JUWATA then going by the popular name of Msondo Ngoma six years later. He has remained with it till today.
He vows that he would use his remaining energy and experience to promote the band which he heads as he doesn`t have any plans to retire from music at least for the moment.
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