Ibraah, a celebrated artist from Tanzania, has opened up on doing a music collab with Kenya’s genge icon, Mejja.
Speaking to Mseto East Africa with Mzazi Tuva, Ibraah revealed that he is the one who initiated the contact and a joint project remains in progress, with no clear timeline on a possible release date.
He emphasized his persistent pursuit, having sought out Mejja himself. This suggests a patient, deliberate approach to high-profile collaborations, leaving the door open for future musical synergy.
“I think it’s communication, I’m still communicating with him because I’m the one who sought him out.”
Ibraah asserts he has never denied any artist a collaboration request, framing his openness through a business lens. He views music as a venture where both parties must benefit, ensuring mutual support for the project to become big. He clarified that sometimes artists approach him at an “incorrect time,” for instance when he’s focused on his project releases.
While this might be misinterpreted as arrogance, he explains it’s part of his work process.
“I think for me, it’s not rejecting someone because music is business… when you work together, both of you must have the heart to support that thing so it can become big. Some come at an incorrect time. Maybe I want to release a project… They don’t know it’s a person’s work process,” Ibraah clarified.
Before hitting the recording booth, Ibraah followed three key disciplines which he credited for his hit music.
Responsibility Check: He first reminds himself he’s the breadwinner of the family and depended upon, ensuring he avoids what he termed as “foolish things”. This grounds him in his purpose.
Emotional Alignment: He matches his emotional state to the song’s theme. For a sad song, he ensures he’s in that “emotion” to properly convey the message and the period he wants to explain.
Studio Comfort: He insists on a happy studio environment, complete with “things to eat” to “energize” everyone present because according to him, “Where people are, there must be snacks to energize them.”
The Studio: A Hub for Creation, Not Just Writing
Ibraah spends considerable time in the studio, focusing on a holistic creative process beyond mere writing. He prioritizes “good sound” and “creating chemistry” with collaborators, choosing to work only with those he trusts and feels “a pure heart” with.
“First of all, the way I know music, it has many things, you need good sound, and second, you create that chemistry to work with people who you believe when you work with them, it’s from a pure heart.”
He views music as imagination, a spontaneous flow that demands a positive mood; a bad mood can hinder the creative output.
Ultimately, his time is spent on “just creating things,” encompassing everything from sound engineering to fostering the right creative atmosphere and emotional resonance for his music.
“Music is also like imagination, it’s like something that just happens, you are not supposed to be in a bad mood while recording,” he said.
Ibraah is currently a solo artist after falling out with his former management where he was signed under Harmonize’s Konde Music Worldwide record label.
Initially, he claimed that Harmonize demanded Tsh1 billion to terminate his contract, but later Harmonize refuted the claim, saying that he had released him together with his blessings without demanding a dime.
by moses sagwe
