Lives Less Ordinary

Tanzania’s hip-hop politician

04.30.2023 - By BBC World ServicePlay

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Joseph Mbilinyi pioneered Swahili rap and then turned to politics, but ended up in jail. In the 1990s he'd become one of Tanzania's biggest stars under the stage name Sugu. He'd released albums, toured the country and abroad, and helped create a new genre called Bongo Flava. He's known for hard-hitting, often political, lyrics. In 2010 he took that message to parliament when he was elected as an opposition MP. But he ended up being jailed after speaking out against the president of the time. Presenter: Mobeen Azhar

Producer: Rob Wilson

Editor: Munazza Khan

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