At his young age, Ali Kiba (also spelled Alikiba or Ally Kiba) from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania has already seen much of the world. His songs, most notably the monster hit Cinderella, have become known and loved all throughout the Swahili speaking countries of East Africa as well as the diaspora. The style is called Bongo flava which is also the term used to describe Tanzanian hip hop, however Ali Kiba’s songs are more reminiscent of candy zouk.

While on a European tour in April 2008, Ali Kiba stayed in the Netherlands, where he joined the African hip hop radio studio for an interview. He also sang an acapella version of Cinderella without any artificial effects, showing that he doesn’t actually need Autotune pitch correction (the same effect that was discussed in Jay-Z’s ‘Death of Autotune’).

Note: this show was recorded for the Dutch edition of African hip hop radio on FunX Lijn5. Presentation is in Dutch, the interview is in English and French.

Listen:

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Playlist:

1st hour
Two Fingers – Straw men ft Sway
Ali Kiba – Mac Muga
Alesh – untitled demo
Rap Ases – Desce & Sobe Ft Boricua
Ali Kiba – track
2Face Idibia – Take it back
Ali Kiba – track
Mwanafa – Msiache kuongea ft Lady Jaydee
Solo Thang and Nguza Viking – Tafadhali
Daby Toure – Setal
Fid Q – Shimo limetema

2nd hour
Shabba Ranks – Dukku dukku (Soulforce remix)
Sun Sooley – Safara
Oxmo Puccino – 365 jours
Dji Tafinha – Nem Tudo é o Que Parece
MI – I’m hot (Gbono Feli freestyle)
OCG – Rafiki
Salah Edin – Horr
Majoie Hajary – Prologue
Overdose ft the Rapman – If I catch U
Mulatu Astatke & the Heliocentrics – Inspiration information
Leeroy – Pepper view

3rd hour
Dj Threesixt on the decks