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Saxophonist, singer and composer,
Coumson Mkomwa (52). |
Coumson Mkomwa. Alive and blowing his own trumpet!
By Arusha Times Reporter
Veteran Saxophonist, singer and composer, Coumson Mkomwa (52), is not dead, but
very much alive and kicking in Arusha municipality! Well, at the Jacaranda Hotel
anyway, where he and his mate, Daniel Amos (34) play instrumental Jazz duet in
their own combo outfit known as "Chameleon!"
Mkomwa turned up at the The Arusha Times office this week to announce the fact
that he is still alive, to anybody who would care find out. And as far as he is
concerned, many people want to find out his whereabouts.
"I have been hearing people over the Radio, phoning in to ask where Coumson
Mkomwa is, some even wondering if I am dead." He said. "Well, I am alive!"
Indeed he is, especially now that many people are reverting back to the old
tunes. Mkomwa who started his music career in 1970, is among the few Tanzanians
who made their mark in the local music scene "When music used to be real music!"
"Today everybody is a singer!" Laments Mkomwa. "Nobody plays any instrument,
they simply depend on synthesizers from where they extract pre-fabricated
electronic tunes." Apparently, his coveted instrument, the Sax, seems to be
fading from the local music stage, faster than the other tools.
"Even in the old days Tanzania had only three outstanding pipers." Said Mkomwa.
"There was the late Twahir Mohammed, who played for the defunct, Orchestra
Safari Sound, Myself and Elias Luza of Mwenge Jazz!"
He admires Twahir's work on the sax, among his favorite musicians list, there is
also Ilunga Lubaba who played solo guitars for Maquiz du Zaire band, the late
Marijani Rajabu for his vocals and another dead musician, Banza Mchafu from
Maquiz for the Bass section.
In his heydays, Mkomwa played for all these bands and others. He started with
Dar Jazz in 1970, then joined Urafiki band in 1974, one year later he founded
Bima-Lee Orchestra, which he left for a lucrative offer from Maquiz in 1980.
From there, he joined Vijana Jazz in 1984, after which he became a freelance.
"As a freelance musician, I found myself in Italy, Japan, Comoros, Dubai, Uganda
and Kenya!" He said, in fact after his Chameleon contract is over, he plans to
jet back to Nairobi where he has another band the "Chaka Tumba!"
"Tumba," by the way, is the Swahili term for 'Trumpet.' Mkomwa recalls his globe
trotting days highlights, one of which, he performed before the late Pope John
Paul II in Vatican. "It was during all the world's religion conference, I stayed
there for 3 months."
He also recalls his runaway best song, "Sophy!" which he composed and recorded
with Bima Lee band, the hit became his trademark wherever he went. Mkomwa
reminisces other classic tunes such as "Jiko Limenuna!" (The kitchen is angry)
he played sax for, while with Vijana band.
At the moment, the veteran musician just plays jazz tunes on his Sax while
Daniel Amos twiddles away on the Yamaha keyboard. The duo are being supported by
the directors of Jacaranda; Freddy and Teddy. Jacaranda Hotel-Bar-Restaurant and
Mini Golf is located along Vijana Road.
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