Tanzanian singer-songwriter Ronoo has released a solo album named “Mbona Unanichukia,” which is a Swahili-language track that literally translates to “Why Do You Hate Me.”
Ronoo has been carving out his own niche in the Tanzania hip-hop and R&B sector. Featured on collaborative records such as “Rock Paper Na Makasi” with Tvrno & Mr. Tee, and “Yes I Do” with MUSICARLY. This one-man effort removes away the guest spots and puts his own voice front and center, which feels more personal than his normal output. That shift in approach is appropriate to the song’s subject matter. Instead he employs the emotional labor of the Swahili language, and the constraint pays off.
Theme wise, “Mbona Unanichukia” is about the bewilderment of being hated or shoved aside by someone whose feelings are not entirely conveyed. It’s a familiar theme wrapped up in the kind of melodious Swahili songwriting that transcends the borders of Tanzania.
“Mbona Unanichukia” works as a complete record because Ronoo trusts the emotion of the song over any production flourish.
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