Carola Daniel Amri Kinasha is a Tanzanian musician. She is a pioneer of traditional fusion in Tanzania. Kinasha is also an activist fighting for the basic rights of musicians in her country. She has worked on campaigns to bring music education back into the schools of Tanzania. In 2000, Kinasha was recognised by the MA Africa Awards in South Africa. Her music crosses cultural boundaries, from Tanzania to the Congo.[1]

Carola Kinasha
Birth nameCarola Daniel Amri Kinasha
Born1962
Longido, Tanzania
OriginTanzania
Genres
  • Afro-Fusion
  • Bongo-Fusion
Occupation
  • Music Artist
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • Guitar
Years active(1988 - present)
LabelsIndependent
Websitecarolakinasha.com

Early life and career

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Carola Kinasha was born into a family of eight children, in Longido village, close to the Kenyan border. Kinasha's father played the accordion, her brothers played the piano, organ and guitar, and her mother still sings in the village choir. While away at school or travelling, Kinasha's older siblings would bring home music from other areas. Her brother Esto brought home country music, gospel and calypso; Abedi brought soul and classical, Oculi brought Tanzanian and Congolese music while her sister Juddy brought home South African music. At the same time, Kinasha would attend every traditional ceremony within walking distance of her home, where she could hear Maasai warriors and girls singing and dancing.[2]

Kinasha is recognized[by whom?] as one of the pioneers of traditional fusion music in Tanzania.[3] Kinasha's band Shada began in the late 1980s with the aim of creating an authentic Tanzanian sound. Kinasha also sang in 1987 for Tanzanian musician Watafiti under the name of a cooperation project Umoja, which been recorded on the disc.[4] Maono, meaning visions or revelation in Swahili, is their second album. The music crosses cultural boundaries, from Tanzania to the Congo.[5]

Kinasha is a Project Manager in Music Mayday.[6]

Kinasha is also an activist fighting for the basic rights of musicians in her country. She graduated from the University of Dar es Salaam with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations, implementing her activism through music since 1988. She has worked on campaigns to bring music education back into the schools of Tanzania. In 2002 Kinasha was recognised by the MA Africa Awards in South Africa. Her music crosses cultural boundaries, from Tanzania to the Congo, a unique blend of the traditional with the present.[7][8]

Discography

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Albums

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Release Year Album Name Genre
1988 Umoja Afro-Fusion
2007 Maono [9] Bongo-Fusion

Filmography

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Release Year Title Role Genre
2009 Mwamba Ngoma [10] as Herself Documentary

References

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  1. ^ "Carola Kinasha" Archived 2015-11-18 at the Wayback Machine Carola Kinasha - heart4photography
  2. ^ "Carola Kinasha" Carola Kinasha - Climate Change Project
  3. ^ "Carola Kinasha - Artist Bio"[permanent dead link] Carola Kinasha - Artist Bio - Sauti za Busara
  4. ^ "Carola Kinasha"[permanent dead link] Carola Kinasha - Watafiti
  5. ^ "Carola Kinasha" Carola Kinasha - African Taste
  6. ^ "Carola Kinasha - Project Manager" Archived 2015-07-12 at the Wayback Machine Carola Kinasha - Project Manager at Music Mayday
  7. ^ "Carola Kinasha" Archived 2015-11-18 at the Wayback Machine Carola Kinasha - heart4photography
  8. ^ "Carola Kinasha" Carola Kinasha - Second CD Releasing
  9. ^ "Carola Kinasha" Carola Kinasha - Second CD Releasing
  10. ^ Tune the Drum Tune The Drum: Music, Tradition and Change in Tanzania.