Tanzania: Ongala Music Festival returns in August

Now in its fourth edition, the three-day live music event was established in 2018 to celebrate the legacy of musical maverick Remmy Ongala and the spirit and culture of the Tanzanian people.

Ongala, who passed away in 2010, was an artist of worldwide renown and a legend among his people for championing the rights of poor Tanzanians through his music. OMF aims to revive his vision to empower, nurture and support artists across Africa. 

The festival also provides a platform for African artists to develop and showcase their talents by fusing different art forms and musical styles – as envisioned by the late Ongala. 

On this year’s line-up are Sholo Mwamba, Siti Muharam, Swahili Ally, Taji Mbaraka, Tofa Jaxx, Man Kifimbo, the Bongo Beat band led by Tom Ongala, the son of Remmy Ongala, as well as the Muda Tanzania and Magomamoto cultural ensembles, among others.

“OMF is more than a music festival, it is an opportunity to celebrate our history, music and our people,” OMF festival director and Remmy Ongala’s daughter, Aziza Ongala, said.

Running under the theme Mziki ni Tiba (Music Heals), OMF 2022 will offer on-site camping and hotel accommodation. It will feature DJ sets, workshops, drumming sessions, and more – with festivalgoers getting a chance to sample the local cuisine and artisanal products. 

Since its inception, OMF has become well known as an event where musicians spanning different genres and generations feed off each other’s experiences and influences.

Each day of the festival will kick off with workshops from 10am while the music performances will take place in the evenings. The workshop topics will include Composition and Songwriting and Stage and Performance Skills. One of the main workshops at the Ingoma Stage will include a three-day jam session managed by first-time partner Action Music Academy. 

Another festival highlight will be the Madaraja workshop where young and old artists will discuss the importance of nurturing intergenerational relationships to enrich art and build creative legacies. 

Festival partners include the embassy of France in Tanzania, Alliance Française Dar es Salaam, Music In Africa, Goethe-Institut, Eventors Ltd, Kiwango Security Ltd, TBL, TCC, BASATA, University of Dar es Salaam, TASUBA and Tanzania’s Ministry of Culture, Arts and Sports, among others.

OMF was previously held in Kigamboni (2018), Bagamoyo (2019) and Dar es Salaam (2020).

Early bird tickets for the full three-day experience cost Tsh25 000 (about $11) each, while tickets at the gate for a single day will go for Tsh10 000.

For more information and bookings, email ongalamusicfest@gmail.com or call +255 716 569 422.