Radiodiffusion Internasionaal Annexe

♬ Njoo Nakwita

According to Kelly Askew’s Performing the Nation: Swahili Music and Cultural Politics in Tanzania, Lucky Star Musical Club formed in 1970. They were the house band for the club of the same name in Tanga, Tanzania. Unlike their local compatriots / rivals Black Star Musical Club, Lucky Star Musical Club had more songs that were explicitly politically oriented. They were known to sing the government’s praises, “serving as de facto government praise poets” – which was unusual for a Taarab band. Typically, most Taarab songs are about love: Love lost, love gained, love desired.

They released over 20 singles on numerous labels in both in Tanzania and Kenya as well as one album under the name Lucky Star Jazz Band.

Catalog number US 60 on Uhuru Stars of Tanzania. No release date listed.