Harmonize
Birth nameRajab Abdul Kahali
Also known asHarmonize
BornMtwara Region, Tanzania[1]
GenresBongo flava, Afropop
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, entreprenuer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active2015–present
LabelsKonde Music Worldwide

Rajab Abdul Kahali, also known by his stage name Harmonize, is a Tanzanian Bongo Flava recording artist, and entrepreneur.[1]

Throughout his career, Harmonize has worked with different African music heavyweights including Burna Boy, Yemi Alade, Ruger, Sarkodie and Naira Marley among others[2]

Earlier life

After completing secondary school education in 2009, Harmonize has lived in Dar es Salaam.


He released his debut song, "Aiyola", in 2015. Other songs include "Kwa Ngwaru",[3] featuring Diamond Platnumz, and "Show Me," featuring Rich Mavoko.[4] In 2017, MTV Base (African TV channel) included him in their African edition of "Ones to Watch for 2017".[5] He was the first artist to sign a recording contract with the Diamond Platnumz WCB Wasafi label[6] and has since founded his own record label, Konde Music Worldwide.[7]

Career

He started his music career in 2011. In 2015, he met Diamond Platnumz and signed with WCB Wasafi. His first song, "Aiyola" was commercially successful. He won three awards from WatsUp TV,[8][9] AFRIMMA, and AEA USA (in the US).[10]

On 25, 2019, he released "Afro Bongo", his first EP, which featured Diamond Platnumz, Burna Boy, Mr. Eazi and Yemi Alade. "Afro Bongo" has four tracks, including "Kainama" . "Kainama's" music video received more than 14 million views in 12 months.

Harmonize left WCB Wasafi at the end of 2019 and released several projects, including "The Return of Q Chillah". Harmonize released four commercial singles, including "Hainistui" and "Uno," both produced by east African hit-makers Hunter Nation[11] and "Bonga".[11]

Harmonize released his first studio album with 18 tracks, titled Afro East, on March 14, 2020. The work infuses Afropop with Singeli and Bongo.[12][13] The album included the single "Bedroom," produced by Hunter Nation.[14] Both the original single and the remix received more than eight million views on YouTube.

Afro East is his first project since leaving Diamond Platnumz's record label and features Burna Boy, Lady Jay Dee, Phyno, Yemi Alade, Mr Eazi, Falz, Skales, Khaligraph Jones, Morgan Heritage, DJ Seven, Mr Blue, Prince Fahim and several others.[15]

On November 5, 2021, Harmonize released his sophomore album, titled High School. The track list was revealed on the artist's Instagram page while he was on his 2021 American tour. The album was his first LP since Afro-East. The project was preceded by the previously released Amapiano hits "Sandakalawe and "Teacher". The first song on the album, "Sorry", was partly performed during a virtual concert by the artist held prior to the album's release.

The album had twenty songs, and only two had been heard before ("Sandakalawe" and "Teacher"). The album featured several prominent African acts, including Naira Marley, Sarkodie, Busiswa as well as labelmates Ibraah and Anjella. Also featured was the Tanzanian Singeli singer Sholo Mwamba. It marked a departure from the feature-heavy Afro-East as it had fewer features, with most songs helmed by Harmonize alone.

On October 28, 2022, Harmonize released his third studio album, titled Made for Us. The 14-track album featured Spice, Ntoshi Gazi, Abby Chams and Bruce Melodie. A few days before the album was released, Harmonize announced on his Instagram that he would not promote the album because he had "done everything in the studio".[16]

The album was critically acclaimed. Music in Africa's Charles Maganga dubbed the album the most personal album by Harmonize to date.[17]

November 24th, 2023 Harmonize released his fourth studio album titled Visit Bongo, which was named by Notjustok as the best Tanzanian album of 2023[18]

After leaving WCB Wasafi, Harmonize started his own record label, Konde Music Worldwide, (also known as Konde Gang) and signed different artists such as Ibraah, Country Wizzy, Anjella, Killy and Cheedy all of which have left the label with the exception of Ibraah.

Discography

Song title Year
"Aiyola" 2015[19]
"Bado"[3] ft. Diamond Platnumz 2016
"Matatizo" 2017
"Happy Birthday" 2017
"Sina" 2017
"Kainama" (ft. Burna Boy[20] & Diamond Platnumz) 2017

"Paranawe" Ft. Rayvanny (2018)

"Show Me What You Got" Ft Yemi Alade (2018)

"Kushoto Kulia" (2019)

"Anajikosha" (2021)

EP

Afro Bongo

Studio Albums

• Afro East (2020)[21]

• High School (2021)[14]

Awards and nominations

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2016 Bado ft. Diamond Platnumz WatsUp TV Africa Music Video Awards for Best African Newcomer Video Won[22]
Himself African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) for Best Newcomer Won[23]
African Entertainment Awards (AEAUSA) for Best New Artist Won[24]

References

  1. 1 2 "Biography: Harmonize". Free Music Ke. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  2. ↑ Kitaa, Idriss (21 March 2020). "Harmonize features Burna Boy, Khaligraph, Yemi Alade, Mr Eazi and several others on new album 'Afro East'". Soundcity. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  3. 1 2 Base, MTV (8 March 2016). "News : harmonize teams up with diamond platnumz for "bado"". MTV Base. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  4. ↑ Base, MTV (30 May 2017). "News : rich mavoko and harmonize's song "show me" is the biggest track in tanzania". MTV Base. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  5. ↑ Base, MTV (10 February 2017). "News : acts to lookout for in 2017". MTV Base. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  6. ↑ Matiko, Thomas (23 August 2019). "Tanzania: Why Harmonize Wants to End His 15-Year Contract With Wasafi". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  7. ↑ Base, MTV (30 August 2017). "News : wcb wasafi's artists collaborate on "zilipendwa"". MTV Base. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  8. ↑ "Shatta Wale saves Ghana at 2016 WatsUp TV Africa Music Video Awards". www.ghanaweb.com. 29 December 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  9. ↑ "Full List of Winners – WatsUp TV Africa Music Video Awards 2016 | Beenie Words". Beenie Words. 28 December 2016. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  10. ↑ "Diamond na Harmonize washinda tuzo Marekani". BBC Swahili. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  11. 1 2 Celebs, African (1 March 2020). "Harmonize — Afro East Album Launch". Medium. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  12. ↑ "Tanzanian Artist Harmonize Releases New 'Afro East' Album". www.rehabmp3.com. 14 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  13. ↑ "Harmonize Features Yemi Alade 'Pain'". Jamsbase.com. 23 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  14. 1 2 Music, Wasafi (27 October 2021). "Harmonize announces release date and tracklist for new album 'High School'". Premium News & Entertainment Site. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  15. ↑ "Harmonize features Burna Boy, Khaligraph, Yemi Alade, Mr Eazi and several others on new album 'Afro East'". 21 March 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  16. ↑ https://soundcity.tv/my-work-speaks-volume-harmonize-wont-promote-upcoming-album/
  17. ↑ https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/
  18. ↑ "The 10 best Tanzanian albums of 2023 | Notjustok East Africa". Latest East African & Bongo Flava Music, Songs & Video - Notjustok. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  19. ↑ "Harmonize on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  20. ↑ Jonstar. "VIDEO: Harmonize - Nishachoka". Bongo Exclusive. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  21. ↑ "Afro East by HARMONIZE - Album Tracklist and Lyrics | AfrikaLyrics". afrikalyrics.com. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  22. ↑ "Full List of Winners – WatsUp TV Africa Music Video Awards 2016 | Beenie Words". Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  23. ↑ "Full List Of The AFRIMMA Awards 2016 Winners - HBR 103.5FM". 17 October 2016.
  24. ↑ "African Entertainment Awards USA Full Nominees List". 2 September 2016.


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