Tanzanian singer and songwriter Malaika Gray introduces herself to the music scene through collaboration with one of the country's most renowned musicians, Marioo. The artist has released her debut single, 'My Fever,' a love song featuring the award-winning Bongo Flava artist. This release marks the beginning of her musical journey, which is rooted in her Tanzanian heritage and upbringing in South Africa.
Although the track is her first official publication, Gray had dreamed of pursuing music for many years. When making her debut, she wanted to do it on her own terms, surrounded by the people and sounds that shaped her personality.
The song 'My Fever' was written and recorded in Tanzania. Its development took place in Dar es Salaam with producer Abbah Process, after which Marioo joined Gray in the material writing process. Speaking about sources of inspiration, Gray noted that the song is less about narrating a specific romance and more about conveying a certain feeling.
She explained that it is a love song that arose more from a sensation than from a story. 'It's that moment when summer arrives and a person appears at the same time, and you can't completely separate those two moments. Everything becomes a little warmer than it should be,' she shared.
Gray aimed for the recording to reflect the warm and relaxed atmosphere of Dar es Salaam, allowing the city's influence to show in the sound. 'I didn't try to create something that sounded like anywhere else. I wanted it to sound like Dar—warm, unhurried, with a touch of the ocean,' she clarified.
The song also showcases her multicultural musical influences, as she switches between English and Kiswahili—two languages she naturally uses in her compositions.
Marioo's presence on her debut release is a significant step for Gray, who admits she has been a fan of the musician for many years. However, she emphasized that what struck her most was Marioo's involvement in the song.
'There was a time at the beginning when I had to stop being a fan and start working,' she said. Instead of just recording a guest verse, Marioo became part of the creative process, helping to shape the melody and lyrics. Gray noted: 'He didn't just come to record a verse and leave. He wrote it with me; he asked me what I really meant; he changed the melody until it was better.'
She highly valued his willingness to collaborate with an emerging artist who hadn't publicly released music yet. 'He approached me before I had anything to show—no songs, no name, nothing to look at. He listened to the song and said, 'Let's do this.' I take that very seriously.'
For Gray, the visual aspect of 'My Fever' was as important as the music itself. The music video, directed by Joma, was shot over two days across Dar es Salaam, capturing the city on its streets, markets, salons, and in everyday transport.
Visual elements include the Indian Ocean, local minibusses (daladalas), and the golden afternoon light, offering viewers a glimpse into the environment that helped shape the song. 'I never thought of a song without a video. Such a track is not just a feeling; it's a place, and a place cannot be heard. It must be seen,' stated Gray.
Gray also consciously sought to have the visuals authentically represent the city, avoiding reliance on familiar or stereotypical African imagery. 'No sets, no imported crew. We went out into the city and filmed it as it is,' she explained. For the singer, Dar es Salaam is not just a filming location. 'The city is not a background in this video. It is the second subject.'
While Bongo Flava and Afrobeats are central elements of her musical identity, Gray asserts that her sound is also influenced by R&B music she listened to as a child in Johannesburg. She describes her style as a blend of Afrobeats and Bongo Flava, interwoven with R&B elements in her vocals and songwriting.
'R&B is what I grew up on in Johannesburg. It's in my voice, whether I plan it or not. Bongo Flava is Tanzania; it's the sound I know in my body, not in my head,' she said. The ability to switch between English and Kiswahili is another defining characteristic of her music, allowing her to draw inspiration from both sides of her background.
While 'My Fever' introduces listeners to her, Gray is already planning future collaborations, especially with South African artists. Since she grew up in Johannesburg, she considers working with local musicians a natural continuation of her musical path. 'South Africa is my home too. I grew up in Johannesburg. Collaborating here isn't an ambition I'm striving for from afar; it's what I expect to do and want to do soon.'
Currently, 'My Fever' gives listeners a first look at what the emerging singer has to offer, combining her Tanzanian roots, Johannesburg influence, and collaboration with an artist she has long admired.
