Bongo

Bongo Flava is the pop music of Tanzania, and its influence runs right across East Africa. It began in Dar es Salaam in the 1990s as young artists mixed hip-hop and RnB with taarab, dansi and other local styles, and it has grown into a polished, melodic sound built on Swahili lyrics, rich harmonies and hooks designed to stay in your head.

Modern Bongo borrows freely from Afrobeats, amapiano and singeli, but it keeps its focus on the voice and the love song. Expect romantic ballads, upbeat wedding tracks, heartbreak songs and plenty of dance records.

This page brings together Bongo Flava from independent artists on Ziki, from Tanzania, Kenya and across the region. Start with the most played songs, then dig into the latest uploads for new voices. Everything streams free, and many artists let you download or buy their tracks directly. Follow the artists you like so you never miss a release, and if you make Bongo yourself, upload it to reach listeners browsing this genre.