Respect for the Mother-in-Law.

Adeladius Makwega 0MBAGALA

“…Fikirini Ninakuomba Unisamehe…, nimekiri turudiane Bwana…Nimekosa Najuta ooh Najuta Nisamehe Najuta… ohh Najuta Nimekosa Najuta ooh Najuta Nisamehe Najuta ooh Najuta…Nitayafumba Macho na Masikio NitayazibaTurudiane Bwana… Nimekosa Najuta ooh Najuta…”

It was the evening hours of January 27, 2026. Mwanakwetu was scrolling through his mobile phone, then visited the page of Tanzanian actress Susan Lewis, whom Mwanakwetu likes to call Mother-in-Law for several reasons that are not mentioned in this article—without Susan Lewis herself even knowing why she is called mother-in-law today.

“The most important thing is that if you give birth to daughters, you have many in-laws you do not know, and Mwanakwetu is one of them…A riddle is posed to a fool; a wise person will understand.”

At that moment, Mwanakwetu came across a short video of a young man named Adam Chinja – Bichuka Junior, singing a song titled Fikirini Nisamehe by DDC Mlimani Park.

Mwanakwetu was deeply impressed by the way Adam Chinja performed this song, and out of respect for Mother-in-Law (Susan Lewis), Mwanakwetu decided to prepare this article today.

“…Najuta eeh Najuta ooh, Najuta Ooh Najuta Ooh Najuta, Nauchungu Mwingi Rohoni Mwangu, Sijuhi ni Nini Kilitokea Tukaachana na Kipenzi Changu.(Naona Uchungu Kila Asubuhi Nijikutapo Mie Peke Yangu Kushinda Kutoka Hata Kwetu Nyumbani – 2TIMES.

Eeeh Fikirine Ninakuomba Unisamehe Nimekiri Turudiene…Usicheke nakwambia Ukweli…

Naona Uchungu Kila Asubuhi Nijikutapo Mimi Peke Yangu Kushindwa Kutoka Hata Kwetu Nyumbani -2TIMES.

Najuta Eeeh Najuta Najuta Eeeh Najuta.

Fikirini Ninakuomba Unisamehe Nimekiri Turudiane Bwana Aaah Nimekosa Najuta Eeh Najuta Nimekosa Najuta Eeeh Najuta . Nimekosa Najuta Eeeh Najuta Nimekosa Najuta Eeeh Najuta…2 TIMES

Nitayafunga Macho na Masikio Nitayaziba Turudieni Bwana…

Nimekosa Najuta Eeeh Najuta… Nimekosa Najuta Eeeh Najuta Nimekosa Najuta Eeeh Najuta Nimekosa Najuta Eeeh Najuta 2TIMES”

These are the verses and chorus of the song Fikirini Nisamehe, which some people simply call Fikirini and others call Mpenzi Fikirini. The song was performed by DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra. Those who are familiar with Tanzanian dansi music will remember that for a song to be complete, it is the work of an entire team. That is why this song belongs to DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra. They played Sikinde, the Ukae rhythm (a homegrown rhythm); voices can be heard, musical instruments can be heard, and there were people who contributed their expertise in the Kiswahili language. You may not notice this today, but they did tremendous work.

“Mlimani Park Orchestra band was founded on August 1, 1978, by former members of various Tanzanian bands. Among the names were Muhiddin Maalim Ngurumo, Abdallah Gama, Cosmas Chidumule, Joseph Mulenga, Michael Enoch, Abel Balthazar, Hassan Bitchuka, Suleiman Mwanyiro, and others. Oral accounts from our elders in Dar es Salaam explain that this group initially operated under the taxi drivers’ association, namely Tanzania Transport & Taxi Services (TTTS), which owned several properties, including Mlimani Park Bar and this band in the city of Dar es Salaam.”

For those who follow Tanzania’s homegrown dansi music, they will also remember that among the early songs of this group was the song TAKSI:

“…Wote ni Abiria Wangu, Mimi ni Taksi Dereva. Kazi Yangu Isiwe Sababu au Kisingizio. Kuwa hilo Gari Si Taksi bali gari la kubeba Vimada. Wote ni Abiria Wangu Mimi Taksi Dereva…”

This carries two major meanings. First, it reflects the saying the one who pays the piper chooses the tune, and second, it serves as evidence that TTTS were the original owners of this band.

Another early song by this band is Kassimu wa Kutumia, also known as Kassimu Number One:

“…Unapokuwa Huna Pesa Nyumbani Hutoki… Kassimu …Ooh Kassimu Mwisho Mwezi Unapofika Nyumbani Huonekani…”

This band continued to blaze trails across hills and valleys, and business has its own challenges. When Tanzania Transport & Taxi Services went bankrupt in 1982, the bar and the management of the band were taken over by the Dar es Salaam Development Corporation (DDC), which is the Dar es Salaam City Council. It was at that point that the band came to be known as DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra. For those who remember, DDC owned many assets, including several buildings such as DDC Kariakoo, DDC Keko, and others.

This band became widely known for its unique style called Sikinde, the Ukae rhythm—that is, sikinde, a homegrown rhythm—derived from the Kizaramo phrase UKAE-NYUMBANI (stay at home).

“Miyenu Nichola, Ukae—Mwanakwetu is returning home.”

This group worked under DDC from that time until early 2009, when they became independent under a band bearing the name Mlimani Park Orchestra Wana Sikinde.

In short, my reader, this is the journey of DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra from 1977/1978 to 2009—a band with many songs in fluent, authentic Tanzanian Kiswahili.

So, what does Mwanakwetu say today?

One thing that is not known to many is that, had there been greater scrutiny, the true owner of many of this band’s songs would be the City of Dar es Salaam, because all those musicians were paid salaries and allowances by the City of Dar es Salaam, just like any other employed public servant. In other words, these songs rightfully belong to the people of Dar es Salaam.

My reader, for today this is more than enough. I decided to prepare this article in honor of Ms. Susan Lewis, Mother-in-Law, and also in honor of my brothers and sisters, the people of Dar es Salaam, because these songs are our property.