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Sanaa Central

Espen Sorensen (Mzungu Kichaa)

  • Espen Sorensen (Mzungu Kichaa)
Song writer/composer, Rapper, Producer
Principal country concerned : Column : Music


In the late 1990s Espen Sørensen was among the first artists that started recording at Bongo Records in Dar-es-salaam, among them Juma NatureTIDMangwair,Ferooz and Professor Jay. During that time it was also, when he got his artist's name Mzungu Kichaa, what can be translated by "Crazy white man". He didn't appear among the upcoming artists in Tanzania at that time, but did some choruses on several songs around 2001. Later on he went to the UK to do his undergraduate studies in Music and Cultural Anthropology.



After finishing his MA in African Studies he stepped back to his music career, founding a group called Effigong in 2006. In 2008 he decided to continue as a solo artist and succeeded to release his first record in 2009 on the independent label Caravan Records. The album was first released in East Africa, but after getting airplay on several European radio stations it was also released in Europe in May 2009.



The songs of the album, like "Jitolee" (feat. Professor Jay) or "Wajanja" are all in Swahili, the language mainly used in East African Bongo Flava. The lyrics of the songs focus on social problems in Tanzania, like poverty. Sørensen did a three weeks promotion tour for his album in February 2009, mainly in Tanzania and Kenya, but he also performed in Denmark with the backing group ReCulture. The single Jitolee has been a hit in Tanzania and Kenya. 

Partners

  • Culture and Development East Africa
  • Mambo magazine
  • Zanzibar International Film Festival
  • Arterial network Tanzania chapter
  • Maisha Music

With the support of