Sama creates an intimate environment, where moments of reflection give way to more powerful, anthemic sections that feel like declarations of personal truths, predispositions, and afflictions.
By Frank Njugi
Older artistes supporting younger ones is a time-honoured tradition in the creative world. Seasoned artistes, with their wealth of experience, offer guidance and a platform for younger creatives to refine their craft and gain recognition. In turn, younger artistes bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, often inspiring their mentors and revitalising traditional practices. This intergenerational exchange creates a vibrant ecosystem where art thrives, bridging the past and the future of the artistic world.
In 2013, Tanzanian rapper Mwana FA, hailed as one of East Africa’s leading rappers and Bongo Flava artistes, discovered a talented female vocalist, Maua Sama. After giving Sama exposure by collaborating with her on the song “So Crazy”, Mwana FA introduced her to the Bongo Flava scene, a move that would culminate five years later with her releasing one of Tanzania’s biggest songs of the decade, “Iokote”, in 2018.
Following the release of “Iokote”, Maua Sama solidified her place in the industry with successful follow-up singles and an EP titled Cinema, released in 2022. Cinema revealed her artistic identity, which is characterised by an affinity for exploring themes of love, vulnerability, and personal expression.
Maua Sama’s musical creations reflect raw, heartfelt experiences, offering an intimate glimpse into her inner world. In her most recent EP, titled Sama, she stays true to this established aesthetic.
Sama is a five-track EP featuring soulful, acoustic-driven ballads, with lyrics and melodies that capture the nuances of relationships, self-discovery, and moments of vulnerability.
Maua Sama kicks off the EP with the single, “Feelings”, where her expressive, heartfelt singing and rich harmonies convey vulnerability and emotion with skill. The track features a steady but understated drum pattern, crisp snares, light hi-hats, and occasional syncopation.
The second track is a collaboration with Ali Kiba, one of the finest artistes to emerge from Tanzania and the East African region. The single, “Itakuwaje”, contrasts a danceable rhythm with poignant lyrics that emphasise resilience in the face of love’s uncertainties. A mid-tempo, cinematic sound with a haunting melody conveys deep sadness and longing.
“Kiss Me” follows, a song with a steady beat that, in a profound way, lays down a groove that’s easy to get lost in. The bass is deep and warm, subtly pulsing, while the melodic lines are soft and fluid, occasionally tinged with a hint of tension, urging the listener to lean in closer. Maua Sama sings about a kiss being the natural next step in an unspoken dance of affection, which she desires.
The penultimate single, “Kariakoo”, is named after the administrative ward in the Dar es Salaam region of Tanzania. The track features rap artiste G Nako, Bongo Flava act, Ibraah, and Swahili Amapiano artiste, Jaivah. “Kariakoo” is an Amapiano song that sees the four artistes incorporating catchy, repetitive vocal phrases.
Their lyrics carry an Afro-House flavour, blending Swahili verses into a beat with skittering, high-pitched percussion. They sing of a lover endowed with ‘everything,’ much like how Kariakoo, Dar es Salaam, is seen as a place that offers everything.
Maua Sama ends the EP with a collaboration featuring Nandy. “Poa”, the final track, blends upbeat electronic synths with a pulsating bassline, creating a contrast between its energetic rhythm and the cynical tone of the lyrics— which critique love and describe living better off without affection.
The icy, detached delivery of the vocals in “Poa” by Nandy and Maua Sama adds to the sense of disillusionment, as if they’ve grown weary of love’s false promises.
Sama is an EP in which each track feels like a distinct chapter in a larger narrative, with Maua Sama using music not just as a means of expression but as a form of release—a space where both the artist and those featured can fully express themselves.
Sama creates an intimate environment, where moments of reflection give way to more powerful, anthemic sections that feel like declarations of personal truths, predispositions, and afflictions.
Lyricism – 1.3
Tracklisting – 1.2
Sound Engineering –1.5
Vocalisation – 1.5
Listening Experience – 1.3
Rating – 6.8 /10
Frank Njugi is a Kenyan Writer, Culture journalist and Critic who has written on the East African and African culture scene for platforms such as Debunk Media, Republic Journal, Sinema Focus, Culture Africa, Drummr Africa, The Elephant, Wakilisha Africa, The Moveee, Africa in Dialogue, Afrocritik and others. He tweets as @franknjugi.