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Talent
without support
"We fail internationally due to our
distributors"
He is famous in the country, but had there been better marketing and
packaging, he thinks he would have achieved international fame. He also
feels that lack of style and character coupled with poor distribution are
what making Tanzanian artistes non-competitors in the international arena. A
young and talented Ruta Bushoke shared his experience of what it is being an
artiste with such a fanfare with The Express and what it feels like seeing
people achieving international success with, well maybe, less talent than
him. Bushoke had begun his singing career with a local group in Dodoma
called Makole Hexagon, however it was his single Nimepata Barua that led
Bushoke to the pathway to success. However his song was soon toppled by
another duet he did with Jacqueline Tuyabaliwe, former Miss Tanzania.
Bushoke has released an album with 12 numbers that he sang since he started
on his own in 2003. His most controversial song was Mume Bwege, depicting
life of an abused husband. And he believes his song could have been on MTV
if it was well promoted.
The Express: As an artiste what do you think Tanzanian audience expect from
the songs?
Bushoke: A strong message, it can be a slow song or danceable but it
should have a strong message to tell, unlike the Kenyans and Ugandans they
like mostly fast songs which can be danced on.
The Express: Do you think our songs can compete with Kenya and Uganda?
Bushoke:
Of course they can, we have more talent and creativity, but the
problem is that we don’t have a particular style of music which can be known
as Tanzanian music. Every artiste has his or her own style which then has to
compete on its own.
The Express: Is this why our music industry is not picking?
Bushoke: Together with that our distributors are only trying to make
profit rather than promoting local talent. Our music industry has a long way
to go before we can compete internationally. The artistes are ready for the
competition because we have the best to offer but the distributors are only
targeting local audience, they are not marketing our songs abroad. I believe
if Mume Bwege was well marketed it could have won international recognition.
The Express: What do you think it takes for one to be a star?
Bushoke: Confidence. If you want to be a star you must have
confidence in life and you must work hard on your first song, you have to
give the best of you.
The Express: Most of your songs are solo, is there any particular reason for
doing solo?
Bushoke: This is because of my style, I sing in Zhouk style and
again the theme of my song requires just one person so I do it myself.
The Express: Does Nimepata Barua have any relation to your real life?
Bushoke: Yes but it’s not the whole truth. I have added some parts
to the song, like in the song I say she goes to Kenya but that is not true.
The incident happened to me, I had a girl friend and she left the country
and then called me and said she got another boyfriend. After a while when I
had already found somebody she asked to come back in my life.
The Express: Is she back in your life?
Bushoke: I don’t want to reveal this now, the story continues in my next
song which is a remix of the first song. In it I am going to reveal how the
story ends.
The Express: Do you use personal experiences for the themes in your song?
Bushoke: I used my love story for my first song, but Mume bwege, did not
happen to me. (Mume bwege talks about how women abuse their husbands)
The Express: What was the reaction from your male fans regarding Mume bwege?
Bushoke: Some people complained but most men came to me thanking me for
saving their marriages. They said since their wives heard the song they have
begun treating them well.
The Express: How was it working with Jacqueline in duet you did together?
Bushoke: It was nice working with her, my manager had called me once in
his office and she was there, he asked me to help her with a song. So I
composed it for her and I prepared the whole song for her, she just had to
sing the song.
The Express: When one looks at the video or hears the song it looks like she
is the lead singer and you are second to her. What is your reaction to that?
Bushoke: It was meant to be like that. I did it for Jacky.
The Express: Didn’t you think you were jeopardizing your career?
Bushoke: I didn’t at that time but the duet actually brought my barua
song down. And I said to myself Damn! What have I done? But its okay at
least she appreciates it.
The Express: Your duet has very explicit expressions of intimate love and
romance, contrary to Tanzanian culture yet there were no controversies about
it. Do you think we as Tanzanians are becoming more open in expressing our
feelings?
Bushoke: Love is the most important thing in human life, and it makes no
sense hiding it. I think our song teaches people to express love. But as a
society I can see now we don’t hide our feelings anymore.
The Express: Do you have to work extra on your facial expressions and the
passion in your voice?
Bushoke: That just comes when I start singing.
The Express: Unlike other artistes, there are not many scandals about you in
media regarding girls, are you just being a good boy or are u planning to
surprise us with wedding bells?
Bushoke: I am not saying I am a good boy, but if I have a secret, but I
don’t think I can keep it for long, it will come out in public Media people
are good at that. (Laughter). I am just a normal person with a normal life.
The Express: What is your normal life?
Bushoke: Hanging out with friend, singing, shopping, I am just the same
as I was before.
The Express: Are you saying being famous has not changed anything in your
life?
Bushoke: I like to live as I used to but there are certain things I try
to avoid, I can’t go to busy streets of Kariakoo any more because that is
perceived differently by so many people and you can’t make them all happy.
The Express: What are your future plans?
Bushoke: I want to learn music, I am planning to go to South Africa for
a course in music. I believe if I get formal training I can perform better.
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