When the news surfaced that, Hasheem Thabeet, is headed to the Development League (D-League), the reaction among Tanzanians especially the users of social networks such as Facebook and blogs were overwhelming. I guess the big question in lots of folk’s minds was; what is a D-League? Does it suggest that he is no longer going to be playing in the usual NBA league? Well, it depends on a lot of things. You can read more about the D-League and its implications or benefits to Hasheem career by clicking here and also here.
The social networks such as Facebook and blogs were immediately stuffed with comments and opinions. Some were wishing him a “quick comeback “to the NBA, while some couldn’t hesitate to throw jabs on him in the sentiment of “we told you”.
I guess the news was “worth the talk”, because not only Hasheem is the first Tanzanian ever to play in the NBA, but also the highest draft pick ever to go to the D-League. Thabeet, who has played sparingly in his rookie season, averaging 2.5 points in 10.3 minutes over 50 games, has been optioned to the Dakota Wizards. He made his debut yesterday when Dakota Wizards played Erie Bayhawks. Dakota Wizards won 108-103.
Before his debut in the D-League, I had caught up with Hasheem with only one question in my mind; about his reaction following the demotion to the D-League. This is how it went;
BC: Hasheem, what is your reaction to this whole thing of moving to the D-League?
HASHEEM THABEET: My reaction about D-League…Uhmmm… well I’m excited to participate in the D-League. I’m looking forward to playing and maximizing this opportunity to be on court and use the skills that I have developed thus far rather than to be on the bench.
Right now the key for me is consistency court time as I am still learning the Pro Game. I know Coach Hollins has my best interest at heart so I’m happy with his decision which I believe is to make sure that I stay active.
Now I know this is the time for the haters and all the doubters to talk and say whatever they have because they have been waiting to bring me down for a minute. So it’s my downtime and I promise I’m not backing back. It’s a new saga that has started. Plus I’m still be getting the same cheque… it’s not like they are not gonna pay me the usual. So I’m still good and soon I’ll be back!!! And oh by the way, I’m only going there for 6 games. So I will be back sooner than they are thinking.
**BC would like to wish Hasheem all the best in the D-League and eventually his return to the NBA.
Bila shaka utakubaliana na mimi nikisema kwamba ni vigumu kuongelea wachora katuni maarufu katika Afrika ya Mashariki bila kumtaja Godfrey “Gado” Mwampembwa.Katuni za Gado sio tu ni maarufu bali pia zimewahi kuamsha hisia kali za wahusika. Si unakumbuka jinsi ilivyokuwa Gado alipowachora waandishi wa habari wa kwetu kwamba wanalamba viatu vya mheshimiwa? Unakumbuka jinsi mjadala ule ulivyokuwa?
Godfrey” Gado” Mwampembwa,mzaliwa wa Tanzania ambaye pia ndugu wa kuzaliwa wa Robert Mwampembwa(yule mchoraji wa katuni maarufu ya Bi.Mkora) hufanyia kazi zake nchini Kenya. Yeye ni Political Cartoonist wa magazeti ya Nation ya nchini humo.
Hivi karibuni aliongea na CNN kuhusu kazi zake na hususani kazi zake wakati “watani zetu wa jadi” walipoamua kuangushiana dhahma kufuatia uchaguzi mkuu wa nchini kwao miaka michache iliyopita.Hayo hapo mahojiano yake.
Nchi yetu imepitia katika awamu nne mpaka sasa katika siasa na uongozi. Kwanza ilikuwa enzi za Mwalimu Nyerere ambazo wengine hupenda kusema enzi za “mchonga”. Kisha ikaja awamu ya pili chini ya Mzee Mwinyi ambaye alikuja kujulikana sana kama “Mzee Ruhksa”. Kisha akaja Mheshimiwa Mkapa ambaye alipewa jina la “ukapa” kwani alipoingia madarakani, na shilingi ikapotea mifukoni mwa watu. Tupo katika enzi za JK. Bado sijajua akimaliza muda wake zitaitwaje enzi zake.Tusubiri.
Wakati sote tunakubaliana kwamba awamu zote ni muhimu kwa maendeleo kamili ya nchi,bila shaka tunakubaliana pia kwamba awamu ya pili,ya Mzee Mwinyi,ilifungua milango mingi sana. Hapo ndipo vitu kama vituo vya televisheni,vituo vya redio vya FM,biashara za nje na ndani,zilikuja kwa kasi.Enzi za mageuzi.
Kufunguka kwa milango hiyo kulitoa pia nafasi kwa vijana kuonyesha vipaji vyao ambavyo hapo nyuma vilikuwa vimejificha bila sehemu ya kufichuliwa. Tukaanza kupata vijana watangazaji.Tukapata vijana wenye vipaji vya kisanii kama vile tunaouita “muziki wa kizazi kipya” hivi sasa. Tukapata wazalishaji muziki (producers). Watangazaji wapya wakaambatana na wale “wakongwe” kutoka vituo kama Radio Tanzania na kutupatia ufanisi na ushindani katika masuala ya utangazaji ambao haukuwepo kabla ya hapo.
Miongoni mwa vijana waliopata fursa ya kuingia katika fani na kuonyesha vipaji vyao ni Sunday Simba Shomari.(pichani). Ghafla maisha yakabadilika,enzi za AM zikazibwa na FM.Soko la muziki wa kizazi kipya likaanza kukua. Majumba ya sinema yakatoweka.Hakuna wateja. Kila mtu yupo nyumbani akikodolea macho luninga yake. Kama kwenu hakuna TV basi unajongea kwa jirani. Muziki wa kimataifa,soka la kimataifa yakiwemo kama mashindano ya kombe la dunia yakawa ni mambo ya kawaida.
Nini kiliwasukuma vijana kama Sunday Shomari kuingia katika fani ya utangazaji wa radio na televisheni? Ilikuwaje enzi hizo ukizingatia kwamba wengi wao walikuwa hawana uzoefu katika masuala hayo? Na je anazungumziaje safari yake kutoka Radio One/ITV mpaka Voice of America alipo hivi sasa? Nilimtafuta Sunday na kufanya naye mahojiano yafuatayo;
BC: Sunday karibu sana ndani ya BC.Tunafurahi kuwa nawe hapa.Mambo yanakwendaje?
SS: Mambo safi tunamshukuru Mungu.
BC: Labda bila kupoteza muda,kwa faida ya wale ambao wanakufahamu kwa sura na jina tu,unaweza kutupatia japo kwa kifupi tu historia ya maisha yako?
SS: Mimi ni mzaliwa wa Dar-es-salaam na mwenyeji wa Tanga. Nimepata elimu ya msingi Arusha School na Muhimbili. Elimu ya sekondari Forodhani na Al-Muntazir.Halafu nimefanya kazi na Dr.Jane Goodall Institute kabla ya kujiunga na ITV na Radio One. Baadaye nikajiunga na Chuo Cha Uandishi wa Habari (TSJ) kwa kozi fupi ya uandishi. Kisha nilikuja hapa Marekani kwa kozi nyingine fupi ya uandishi wa TV kabla ya kurudi tena Tanzania na kuendelea na masomo yangu ya juu ya uandishi hapo TSJ.
Wakati huo huo nikiendelea na kazi hatimaye nilitoka kwenye uandishi nikaingia Shirika la Ndege la Alliance kabla ya kuja tena Marekani kujiendeleza kielimu na kutafuta maisha mengine. Na hivi sasa naendelea na shahada ya mawasiliano katika Chuo Kikuu Cha Maryland.
BC: Ilikuwaje ukaingia kwenye fani ya utangazaji? Nini kilikushawishi au nani alikuvutia katika fani ya utangazaji? (more…)
Bendi maarufu kutoka Tanzania,InaAfrika Band,wapo ziarani katika nchi mbalimbali za bara la Ulaya wakiwa watumbuizaji rasmi wa onyesho maarufu linalojulikana kama Circus Der Sinne-Mother Africa. Kama hujawahi kuliona onyesho hili,tafadhali usikose hususani kama unaishi au unatarajia kutembelea bara Ulaya kuanzia mwezi December mpaka mwezi February.
Kwa ratiba kamili ya Circus Der Sinne-Mother Africa,bonyeza hapa. Heko kwa InaAfrika Band.Keep the star shining.
BONDIA Mtanzania anayeishi nchini Marekani Rogers Mtagwa anatarajia kupanda ulingoni Januari 23 mwakani kupambana na Yuriorkis Gamboa, pambano la raundi 12 litakalofanyika jijini New York.
Pambano hilo la ubingwa linalotambuliwa na HBO litakuwa la uzito wa Feather, ambako mabondia hao wanaendelea kujifua kwa ajili ya shughuli hiyo.
Kwa mujibu wa taarifa kutoka Marekani zinaleza kuwa Mtagwa ana rekodi ya kushiriki mapambano 26 na kushinda 13 kwa pointi, kupoteza mawili na kushinda kwa KO 18.
Mpinzani wake Gamboa amecheza mapambano 16 na kushinda kwa KO 14, mawili kwa pointi na hajapoteza hata pambano moja.
Aidha, mbali ya pambano hilo pia kutakuwa na pambano la uzito kama huo ambalo litamshirikisha Juan Manuel Lopez atakayezichapa na Steven Luevano.
Pambano jingine linalotarajiwa kufanyika siku hiyo jijini Pasay nchini Philippines, Donnie Nietes atazipiga na Ivan Meneses.
Source:Tanzania Daima
Machupa ni mfungaji hodari. Usemi huo pekee unatosha kumuelezea Athuman Iddi Machupa (pichani) mshambuliaji kijana ambaye kwa upande wa Tanzania, aliwika zaidi alipokuwa akichezea timu ya soka ya Simba maarufu kama “Watoto wa Msimbazi”.
Hivi leo Machupa anasakata kabumbu nchini Sweden akiwa na timu ya Vasalund IF.
Niliwasiliana na Machupa hivi karibuni na kumuuliza maswali machache. Haya hapa mahojiano yetu;
BC: Mpaka sasa mambo yanakwendaje hapo Sweden?Unachezea timu gani na ipo daraja la ngapi?
Machupa: Kwa upande wangu hapa Sweden maisha yanakwenda poa kaka.Ninachezea timu inayoitwa Vasalund IF ilikuwa katika ligi ya Superettan (ligi ya pili kwa ukubwa hapa Sweden) lakini kwa bahati mbaya tumeshuka daraja hadi la kwanza..
BC: Umeshakaa Sweden kwa muda wa kutosha sasa.Unapaonaje na zaidi unaonaje nafasi za kuendeleza soka lako?
Machupa: Kwa sasa kaka napeleka mwaka hapa na kwa upande wangu mi naona maisha ni mazuri na hata nafasi ya kusonga mbele kwangu ni kubwa mno.Nazidisha bidii katika kila kitu na inshallah nitafanikiwa zaidi na zaidi.
BC: Kama mgeni katika nchi ya watu,ni mambo gani ambayo ilibidi ukabiliane nayo kwanza? Hapa nazungumzia mambo kama vile lugha,vyakula nk
Machupa: Of coz lugha kaka ni ngumu. Lakini nashukuru jamaa wamenishughulikia masuala yote ya muhimu ikiwa ni pamoja sehemu ya kujifunza lugha yao.Na kuhusu chakula; kwa kusema ukweli ni kizuri tu. Hakina tofauti sana na cha nyumbani Tanzania kwa sababu najipikia mwenyewe chakula ninachojisikia kula.Hali ya hewa nayo ilikuwa changamoto lakini taratibu ninazoea.
“Hebu ngoja nicheki kama vitu vishaiva”
BC: Una ujumbe gani kwa vijana wengine wanaosakata soka nyumbani Tanzania?
Machupa: Ujumbe wangu kwa vijana wanaosakata soka na hususani waliopo nyumbani ni kwamba waheshimu soka kwani soka ni kazi kama zilivyo kazi zingine zozote.Ukiheshimu soka hakika utafanikiwa.
BC: Mwakani ni mwaka wa kombe la dunia.Safari hii kipute kipo Africa.Nini matarajio yako kwa nchi za Afrika?
Machupa: Ni changamoto kubwa kwa timu za Africa ambazo zimefanikiwa kuingia katika finali hizo. Tusubiri tuone kwa sababu nina uhakika watajiandaa vizuri. Nina uhakika hatutosikia madai ya posho. Nina imani watatuwakilisha vyema kabisa,sina wasiwasi na hilo. Ila nahisi Ghana watafanya vizuri. Nawa-support.
Machupa akiwa mazoezini na timu yake.Anaonekana kulia katika picha akijaribu kutuliza mpira chini.
BC: Una lolote la kuongeza kwa mashabiki wako?
Machupa: Mashabiki ndio kila kitu.Nawapenda na ninawaheshimu sana na hakika bila wao hatuwezi songa kwa sababu wao ndio wanaotukosoa pale tunapokosea.I love all my fans popote walipo.
Just a couple of weeks ago, he started his career as an NBA player. But before long, he broke his jaw in an incident involving him and his teammate, Zach Randolph. He actually suffered a ridgeline fracture in his mandible- a bone in his lower jaw.
Since the incident, his fans and well wishers have been praying for his quick recovery while his critics have also used the same opportunity to nail him down or try to elevate him. It just depends on how one looks at criticism.
I recently caught up with him, whereby, he took time to talk about his health and also to answer some of what his critics have been saying. Here is how my mini-interview with him went down…
BC: A lot of your fans and supporters have been worried about you since the jaw-breaking incident. Can you briefly tell me and of course…your fans how are you doing now and whether you are back in training and all that?
Hasheem Thabeet: Niko powa kabisa… I’m doing great. I have been back to work/practice since Monday and I am looking forward to play tonight when we play against L.A Clippers. I am a tough kid and don’t like to sit on a bench. I wouldn’t miss a game if it was my choice. But this is a professional level and coaches go with what they have been having or players that have been there before me. For now I am an additional and don’t mind playing that role.
BC: Some critics have been saying that you are not or were not ready for NBA and all that. I am sure you have heard such comments and criticism. What is your reaction?
Hasheem Thabeet: I know people have been talking and saying that I am not ready and or I should not have been drafted by Memphis and therefore suggesting I should have joined another team where there are more veterans so as to learn more and stuff. My answer to them is that; that is not or can’t work for everybody. If you may recall, Memphis Grizzlies drafted Pau Gasol. He was young and almost by himself. But eventually he ended where he is now…with a ring (Lakers).
I look at the situation differently. They drafted me for a lot of different reasons such as potential, progress, presence and production. That is what pushes to me to go out there and learn and strive to be better every day. There is a good reason they pay me $4 M per year.
So while I thank everybody for their advises, comments and criticism and try to understand those who keep doubting me or just hating for no well founded reasons, I wish to inform everyone that I am definitely making a progress and that is why I am able to survive the everyday’s routines of practices and the league itself.
BC: Thank you very much Hasheem. Wish you all the best.
Hasheem Thabeet: Thanks Jeff
Recently,Rapper Gsan of the group X Plastaz from Arusha, Tanzania, represented Africa and especially his motherland, Tanzania in this year’s edition of the BET Hip Hop Awards, which was broadcasted on October 27 on BET (Black Entertainment Television) in the USA.
When asked by Emcee Africa presenter Lee Kasumba about his experience of recording the Cypher segment as some of you saw it during the broadcast Gsan had this to say:
“Well, the Cypher segment was recorded in New York before the actual award ceremony. For me, it was just amazing to be there with people like Eminem, KRS One, DJ Premier playing the beats, and being able to showcase what I had. Many people were blown away with what I did and asked me why I rhymed in Swahili ’cause they wanted to understand. I was just like ‘English is not my first language, I speak it, I love it but you will be able to mess me up if I rhyme in English’. There were emcees from all over the world in one setting, and I was happy to represent for Africa. I wasn’t starstruck, just glad to showcase what I did and could do with my American counterparts. I mean, think of it, we really have the same names, just one word changes, African American and African, do you understand what that means?“
GSAN(middle) with KRS ONE(right) and DJ Premier(left) in New York City.
BC SALUTES YOU GSAN and the entire X-Plastaz crew!
Msimu wa 2009/10 wa ligi maarufu ya mpira wa kikapu ya nchini Marekani(NBA) unaanza hivi leo. Ni mwanzo wa mikikimikiki ya ushindani mkali ambao hutawala ligi hiyo.
Kwa watanzania wengi, macho na masikio yao,watayaelekeza kwa Hasheem Thabeet ambaye kwa mapana na marefu atakuwa sio tu anaitafutia timu yake ya Memphis Grizzlies ushindi,bali pia atakuwa akiipeperusha bendera ya nchi yake ya Tanzania kwa njia moja au nyingine.
Habari za Hasheem zitakuwa sio tu za uchezaji bali pia jinsi ambavyo ni “ndoto iliyotimia” kwa kijana kutoka nchi ya “ulimwengu wa tatu” kama ya Tanzania kufikia kiwango cha kucheza katika ligi ya NBA ambayo hata huko Marekani kwenyewe,vijana wengi hutamani sana kufanya hivyo.
Bila shaka jina la Tanzania litatajwa mara nyingi kuliko kawaida katika matangazo ya ligi hiyo.Ni kwa sababu ya Hasheem Thabeet,mtanzania wa kwanza kuchezea katika ligi hiyo.Haishangazi kuona kwamba watu wengi,wakiwemo viongozi wetu,wanajitahidi kuwa karibu zaidi na Hasheem Thabeet.Jina lake ni ishara ya ushindi.Ni lulu.
Ingawa Hasheem hayupo bado katika “First Five” ya timu yake ya Grizzlies Memphis,bila shaka atacheza kesho wakati timu yake itakapowakaribisha, Detroit Pistons (kutoka jijini Detroit,Michigan) mjini Memphis,Tennesse yalipo makao makuu ya Grizzlies Memphis.Watabiri wa mambo wanasema Hasheem tayari ameonyesha uwezo mkubwa wa kuzuia mirusho ya timu pinzani lakini wanashauri azidishe juhudi katika rebounding.Bila shaka anasikia na atazingatia ushauri huo na pia wa makocha wake.
BC inaungana na wote wanaomtakia kheri Hasheem.Tunaelewa kwamba mafanikio ya Hasheem ndio mwanzo wa mafanikio ya vijana wengine wengi wa kitanzania ambao naamini kabisa,endapo watapewa nafasi,wanaweza pia kufikia kiwango cha Hasheem.Kila la kheri HT.
Tanzanian Bongo Flava giant A.Y. has been booked to rock the MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain (MAMA) in Kenya. The Best Hip Hop contender will be joining Lizha James from Mozambique, Fally Ipupa from DRC, South Africa’s Da L.E.S. and Ugandan gal trio, Blu3 on stage at the Indoor Arena, Moi International Sports Stadium, Nairobi on 10 October 2009.
A.Y., Da L.E.S, Lizha James, Fally Ipupa and Blu3 join previously announced performers Wyclef Jean, Wahu, Lira, M.I. and Samini at the second annual MAMA awards, taking place at the Indoor Arena, Moi International Sports Centre, Nairobi, and airing to a potential TV audience of 1 billion viewers around the world.
A.Y., otherwise known as Ambwene Yessayah is one of Tanzania’s most popular and successful Bongo Flava artists. A.Y., who nurtured dreams of being a pilot before getting into music, is now flying high on the East African music scene as one of its most respected and commercially successful artists. Having started his journey in music in 1996 with Tanzanian rap group S.O.G., A.Y. never regretted the decision to go solo in 2002 and continues to dominate the East African hip hop scene with his catchy vocals and socially aware lyrics.
The MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain, Road To MAMA and What Went Down TV shows will be aired on MTV base and partner TV stations in October 2009.