When I was growing up, a Tanzanian passport clearly stated that you could travel to all countries except Israel and South Africa. In my generation, white South Africans were part of racism; the enemy. So imagine my trepidation and nervousness meeting a white South African. Alan Hayman had a moustache, walked briskly and spoke softly. I had never shook hands with a white South African before.
Mtindo wa vijana wa Bongo Fleva ndiyo ulikuwa ukianza kupaliliwa. Remmy Ongala alikuwa mwanamuziki aliyeanza kutangaza Bongo Beat, akitumia lugha iliyopendwa na kueleweka mitaani. Miezi michache awali, mwaka 1996, nilimwona Remmy Ongala akitumbuiza hapa mjini London. Kama kawaida kila Remmy Ongala alipokuja Uingereza aliwakutanisha Watanzania. Nchi hii ndiyo makao makuu ya kampuni ya muziki ya Real World iliyomtoa katika ufukura wa Afrika na kumjenga dunia nzima.