Jhikoman (born as Jhikolabwino Siza Manyika; born in 1972) also known as Jhiko Manyika, is a Tanzanian reggae artist. He has served as an active musician since 1994 and toured extensively in both Europe and Africa. He combines acoustic reggae with African music. Jhikoman sings in English, Swahili, and mother tongue Kinyasa.[2]

Jhikoman
Birth nameJhikolabwino Siza Manyika
Also known asJhiko Manyika
Born1972 (age 51–52) [1]
Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Genres
  • Afro-acoustic
  • Afro-Reggae
  • World: East Africa
Occupations
  • Music Artist
  • painter
  • sculptor
  • farmer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1994–present
LabelsAfrikabisa Records

His music provides him a voice to raise awareness about social oppression and injustice. He uses it as a medium for communicating messages of peace, love and unity.[3]

Early life

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Jhikoman was born in 1972 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He is the third child in the family. He has 8 other siblings, 5 brothers and 3 sisters. In addition to music, Jhikoman works as a painter, cartoonist, sculptor and a farmer. He currently resides in Bagamoyo, Tanzania.[4]

Professional involvements

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He is the lead singer of the Afrikabisa Band, since 2000. He is the vocal coach for his record label AfrikaBisa Records. In 2012, he joined as a vocal advisor at the Bagamoyo Institute of Art and Culture and TaSUBa.[5]

He has produced several albums and performed widely in Europe and Africa such as Mela in Oslo, Norway, World Village festival / Maalma Kylassa in Helsinki, Finland; Exeter Respect Festival in Exeter, Devon, UK and locally at ZIFF- Zanzibar International Film Festival, and Sauti za Busara in Zanzibar as well as Bagamoyo International Art Festival etc.[6]

Personal life

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He has three children – two daughters, Chimwemwe and Ntendele, and a son, Tayamika.

Discography

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His music can be found on CDBaby, iTunes and Amazon.

Albums

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Chikondi

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Jhikoman published album Chikondi in 2007 through Afrikabisa Records. Chikondi is Nyasan language and means divine, unconditional and sacrificial love. The disc was recorded at the Green Dragon studio in Oslo, Norway, and Zamunda studio in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The album attracted a number of international artists, such as Baran M. Kurdistan, Khalid Salih from Sudan; Uriel Seri Côte d'Ivoire; Thorbjørn Holte Geir Inge Storli, Henrik Johnsen and Jacob, Norway; OnRebel G, Mexico; Carola Kinasha, Tanzania; Chai Jaba, Congo; as well as Sister Yana, Brazil.[7]

Tupendane

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Jhikoman released Tupendane in 2008 through Afrikabisa Records. The album yielded Micho Dread and it was recorded StudioRed studio in Helsinki, Finland. The songs of this album are in Swahili, a language widely spoken through East Africa.[8]

Yapo

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In 2009, Yapo was released through the UduMood Music. The album was produced by well-known Finnish musician and producer Samuli "power" Majamäki. The disc was recorded in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, UduMood studio in Finland and Alcalassa Spain.[9]

Moyo Unadunda

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In 2012, Moyo Unadunda was released. The album is a collaboration between Jhikoman and Afrikabisa Band.[10]

Release Year Album Name Genre
2007 Chikondi World: East Africa
2008 Tupendane Reggae: Roots Reggae
2009 Yapo World: East Africa
2012 Moyo Unadunda Reggae: Roots Reggae

Singles

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Release Year Song Title Genre
2010 Selina[11] Reggae: Roots Reggae
2011 Bongoraggamuffin[12] World: Afro-Beat
2013 Bagamoyo (feat. FidQ & Mzungu Kichaa)[13] World: East Africa
2015 Afrika Arise (Jhikoman and Peetah Morgan)[14]  

References

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  1. ^ "Jhikoman". Music in Africa. Music In Africa Foundation.
  2. ^ "Jhikoman Website" Archived 25 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine Jhikoman and The Afrikabisa Band Website Bio Page
  3. ^ "Jhikoman last.fm wiki" Last.fm Jhikoman wiki, Edit: 12 August 2010
  4. ^ "Jhikoman Facebook" Jhikoman Official Facebook page
  5. ^ "Jhikoman LinkedIn Profile" Jhikoman LinkedIn Profile
  6. ^ "Sauti Busara" Archived 21 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine Sauti Busara Jhikoman Profile
  7. ^ "CDBaby Jhikoman Chikondi"
  8. ^ "CDBaby Jhikoman Tupendane"
  9. ^ "CDBaby Jhikoman Yapo"
  10. ^ "CDBaby Jhikoman Moyo Unadunda"
  11. ^ "CDBaby Jhikoman Selina" Selina Single by Jhikoman
  12. ^ "CDBaby Jhikoman Bongoraggamuffin" Bongoraggamuffin Single by Jhikoman
  13. ^ "iTunes Jhikoman Single" Bagamoyo Single by Jhikoman (feat. FidQ & Mzungu Kichaa)
  14. ^ "iTunes Jhikoman Single" Afrika Arise - Single by Jhikoman