Vanessa Mdee
Vanessa Hau Mdee (born 7 June 1988), is a Tanzanian recording artist, television personality and radio host. Mdee is popularly known for being the first ever Tanzanian MTV VJ. She later rose to prominence as a radio and TV host, hosting Epic Bongo Star Search and Dume Challenge for ITV Tanzania before signing to B'Hits Music Group in late 2012.
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[edit]- I think it's very important to appeal on a continental level but still remain as rooted as you can be. Although I think that a lot of times there's a misconception that being African you must stick to what is typically known as African whereby a lot of us are millennials that have grown up in a different time and space where our influencers are different from those of past generations. However, we are Africans not because we live in Africa or we make African music but because Africa lives in us. Wherever we go we represent Africa irrespective of which country we come from. The core and soul of our content is that it's very—in my case—Tanzanian. I think that's a big, big part of my identity. I never sway from the fact that whether you know me or don't know me, if you'd research about me, I am a big ambassador of my home and my culture…that makes my sound and my style the most appealing.
- It's important for me to use Swahili, number one, because Swahili sits nicely on music… it sits very well on African beats, it's very poetic and Swahili melodies to me are endless and adaptable. They are harmonious… they just sound great to anyone's ear whether they understand the language or not – so it's very important for me to sing in Swahili.
- Yes, we have a lot of Kenyan influence. We all went to a Kenyan school once upon a time—including Mimi. I think where we still have this Kenyan thing is that we can switch into Sheng' anytime it's needed and you won't even notice that we are from Tanzania
- Well, it started off as something I wanted to articulate as an artist.In America when you say something is money you mean it's quality and worthy hence 'Vee Money'. But also as an artist, I have to eat as well; I've got to be paid for my work.
- Vanessa Mdee: "It's Tough to Be a Female Artist, You Have to Work Five Times Harder Than the Men", By HARUN MOMANYI, retrieved on February 11, 2019
- I think I've never stopped being anyone of them. Also, because TV presenting happened first that's what most people know me for, then radio but I've always been a singer and wanted to sing. Now I want to take on my role as a performer and artist because it's the most recent journey I'm embarking on. They're all interrelated.
- I did.... First of all, I don't do 'fall back plan'. Have a plan, not a fall back plan. Put in the hours for whatever it is in order to succeed. My father had wanted me to have a plan, I wanted to have a career in music but I also took on my degree, accepted all the challenges and told myself I had to kick ass and do this to the best of my abilities. It wasn't hard, it taught me so much that I know.
- Oh wow, I mean, I wanna be here for a while. I wanna do this as a career. I pay attention to many people who had long lasting careers, I'm emulating my idols and just putting in my flare; I'm taking a lot of responsibility and enjoying every moment. I believe that with everything I do it comes from a place of passion; from my gut. I'm just feeling the beat not faking it and rolling with the punches.
