Meet the little-known man holding Wasafi Records together

Everyone who loves Wasafi Classic Baby (WCB) has a 99.99% chance of having heard the sig tune ‘Ayo Laiza’ (read Ayo laiza) im most of the record label’s club-bangers.

But little thought is given to what it means or even who Ayo Lizer actually is for that matter.

Meet Ayo Lizer

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Iraju Hamisi Mjege, alias Ayo Lizer, started out as a musician after which he switched to music production.

“I have always loved music but I wasn’t always a producer. I was a singer first then I became a producer out of curiosity. I knew if I would be able to produce my own music, it would save me money and give me freedom to make my own music the way I liked it,” Lizer tells of how he started out.

The 30-year-old producer, who celebrated his birthday on the Coke Studio recording set here in Kenya, drew inspiration from one of the most popular Tanzanian music producers like the late Roy who helped put Tanzanian music on the map. He produced songs for people like Mr. Blue, Matonya and the likes who were big in Tanzania then. Lizer credits Roy, who largely influenced his earlier style, which led him to find his footing and own sound.

“Although over time, I found that I loved to produce music for other people and I didn’t like to sing anymore. Then, my music performed very well in my hometown Kigoma, even to date, people remember me. But by the time I moved to producing, I was yet to break out as an artist in Tanzania as a whole,” he says.

The East African record producer began his fruitful career 10 years ago in Burundi. Within years of working there, he worked with big regional artistes like Sat B, Big Fizzo, Lolilo, Emery Sun and Rally Joe. Great works that won him Producer of the Year award in Burundi in 2014.  

“I have always loved music but I wasn’t always a producer. I was a singer first then I became a producer out of curiosity. I knew if I would be able to produce my own music, it would save me money and give me freedom to make my own music the way I liked it,” Lizer tells of how he started out.

The 30-year-old producer, who celebrated his birthday on the Coke Studio recording set here in Kenya, drew inspiration from one of the most popular Tanzanian music producers like the late Roy who helped put Tanzanian music on the map. He produced songs for people like Mr. Blue, Matonya and the likes who were big in Tanzania then. Lizer credits Roy, who largely influenced his earlier style, which led him to find his footing and own sound.

“Although over time, I found that I loved to produce music for other people and I didn’t like to sing anymore. Then, my music performed very well in my hometown Kigoma, even to date, people remember me. But by the time I moved to producing, I was yet to break out as an artist in Tanzania as a whole,” he says.

The East African record producer began his fruitful career 10 years ago in Burundi. Within years of working there, he worked with big regional artistes like Sat B, Big Fizzo, Lolilo, Emery Sun and Rally Joe. Great works that won him Producer of the Year award in Burundi in 2014.  

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