Vanessa Hau Mdee (born 7 June 1988 in Arusha,
Tanzania),[1] also
referred to as Vee Money, is a Tanzanian recording artist,
songwriter, youth activist, TV and radio host.[2] Mdee
is popularly known for being the first ever Tanzanian MTV VJ. She later rose to
prominence as a radio and TV host, hosting Epic Bongo Star Search and Dume
CHallenge for ITV Tanzania before signing to B'Hits Music Group in
late 2012. After joining B'Hits Music Group, Mdee collaborated with Tanzanian
rapper A.Y. on a record '’Money'’ and Ommy Dimpoz,
a Bongo
Flava artist on a record Me and You that was later
voted Song of the Year during the 2013 Kilimanjaro Music Awards.[3] She
received an even bigger buzz with the release of her first solo single
"Closer", which in its first week was downloaded over 30,000 times, a
feat achieved by no other Tanzanian artist. "Closer" remained on the
charts for over 13 weeks.[4] Vanessa
has had the chance to interview many artists, such as K'Naan, Kelly Rowland,
French Montana, Trey Songs, Mac Miller, Rick Ross,
Ludacris, Miguel, Donald, Nazizi, Xtatic, Stella
Mwangi, Camp Mulla, Tay Grin, Teargas, Dr. Sid and many more
African and international acts. In 2015 and 2016 she released three singles
Nobody But Me, Never Ever and Niroge which were also received well.
Early life and
education
Vanessa Mdee was born on 7 June 1988, in Arusha, the
third-largest city in Tanzania; located in Northern Tanzania. Mdee became
familiar with various cultures after growing up in New York, Paris, Nairobi and
Arusha. She obtained her secondary and high level education at Arusha Modern
High School. Mdee attended university at the Catholic University of Eastern
Africa to pursue a Law degree.
Mdee quickly became familiar with many different forms of creative and
performing arts.
Career
2007: MTV VJ Search
In early 2007, Mdee got the chance to audition for The MTV
VJ Search in Dar es Salaam. Afterwards, she joined Carol and Kule
to host the Coca Cola Chart Express. By 2008, Mdee had established
herself in Tanzania and around the continent, hosting shows in Nigeria, South
Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Angola, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of
Congo. She also became known in the United States and Brazil.
2008: MTV Staying Alive
In 2008, Mdee worked with the Staying Alive Foundation on a
project close to her heart. She got to visit the Uwanja wa Fisi with
then-Staying Alive Foundation Special Ambassador Kelly
Rowland. Mdee also joined Malaria
No More in their Z!nduka Campaign, a campaign aimed at the eradication
of malaria.
2009
In early 2009 Mdee hosted Senses, Sounds and Wisdom with
Zantel during the annual Sauti Za Busara International Music Festival,
showcasing the ever-growing Swahili culture. Mdee's fashion sense has made her
the go-to girl at every MTV Africa Music Awards. She hosted the red
carpet event for three years in a row.
2011: Choice FM Tanzania and other media projects
In 2011, Mdee's became the host of 102.5 Choice FM's The
Hitlist. As host, Mdee played R&B, Hip-Hop, and Pop. She also
interviewed many artists, such as K'Naan, Kelly Rowland, Mac Miller, Rick Ross,
Ludacris, Miguel, Donald, Naazizi, Xtatic, Stella Mwangi, Camp Mulla, Tay Grin,
Teargas, Dr. Sid and many more African and international acts.
Along with her pan-African weekly TV show, MTV's
Base Select 10 and daily radio gig, Mdee blogged as a roving reporter
on behalf of MTV Staying Alive and UNAIDS on her
Dynamites Mission website. She was MTV's voice at the 2011 UNAIDS Mali Youth
Summit in Bamako and the subsequent High Level meeting in Cape Town, South
Africa, She participated in the International Conference on HIV and STI's in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and cofounded (along with M. K.
Asante) STANDWIDTH, under the UNAIDS umbrella.
2012: MTV Base Meets and music premier
In 2012 Mdee hosted MTV Base Meets, a show
geared towards empowering young Africans from around the world by giving them
the rare opportunity to sit down with an influential leader. MTV Base
Meets brought her in the company of Russell Simmons, Alek Wek, former
President of Nigeria Hon. Olusegun Obasanjo, football star Emmanuel Adebayor
and Akon. Mdee also hosted the Kili Music Awards (Tanzania's music awards) as
well as Tanzania's nationwide talent search Epiq Bongo Star Search (EBSS).
Mdee is currently working on her new web series Vee World Wide,
about her travels and encounters with various celebrities from around the
world. People who have appeared on Vee World Wide include Keke
Palmer, Carol Rodrigues, Da Internz, Keyshia Knight Pulliam, Letoya Luckett,
DWoods, GOOD Music's D'Banj and many more. Mdee was asked to audition for
BET's 106 & Park, although she did not get the gig.
Also in 2012, Mdee was awarded at a gala in New York City by
the UNA-YP (United Nations Association of Young Professionals) for being an
African change maker. In the same month[when?] she
was awarded by the GAVI Alliance for her support in the initiation of free
vaccinations for Tanzanian children. In May 2013, Mdee was invited to speak at
the World Economic Forum for Africa in Cape Town, South Africa on behalf of the
GAVI Alliance on the announcement of the new record low price for the Human
Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. Later that same month, Mdee again spoke on
cervical cancer at the Global Forum for Cervical Cancer Prevention in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia on behalf of Global Health Strategies. Mdee officially became
a GAVI Ambassador and an active voice against cervical cancer.
Mdee launched her music career in 2012, working on the
single "Me and You" by Ommy Dimpoz. A month later 13 January 2013 –
she released her first single "Closer". These scored her four
nominations at Tanzania's Music Awards (Kilimanjaro Tanzania Music Awards),
including "Bongo Pop Song of the year", which she won.[5] She
also won Collaboration of the Year.[6]
2013
In, 2013 Mdee got added to the Dar es Salaam hub of the
World Economic Forum as a Global Shaper. In October 2013 Mdee joined the GAVI
Alliance again at the UN General Assembly where she spoke on a panel with
Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda. This trip ended with Mdee closing the
NASDAQ by ringing the ceremonial closing bell, along with UNAIDS Executive
Director Michel Sidibe and Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, President of Mali. Mdee was
in turn awarded by the Global Health and Diplomacy for her work in advocacy.
Mdee hosted MTV Base's Hunters Oasis; a music festival
around Africa with appearances from some of the African continents hottest
artists and DJs. She also hosted Tanzania's Epiq Bongo Star Search
Season 7 and Dume Challenge, seasons 1 and 2.[8] Mdee
also released her second single "Come Over" in November, 2013 which
has been on charts in Tanzania, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya etc.
2014: Music, Awards, Airtel, Coke Studio, Crown Paints,
Music Tours
In 2014, Mdee was nominated for 3 Kilimanjaro Tanzania Music
Awards for Female Artist of the Year, R&B Song of the Year and Female
Performer of the Year. On 3 May 2014, she won for R&B Song of the Year
for Closer. Mdee released her third single Hawajui on
13 June.
‘Switch On’ Airtel Campaign; Vanessa Mdee is involved in the
‘Switch On’ campaign by Airtel that is about connecting users to the internet
and charged according to the kind of device in use.
MTV Africa Music Awards; Vanessa Mdee alongside Nomuzi Mabena
presented the Best Collaboration Award and Best Francophone Award. During the
trip to Durban, South Africa she as an MTV VJ had an opportunity to sit down
and interview Trey Songz, Miguel and French Montana all artists from the U.S.
Coke Studio Africa; Vanessa Mdee features in season II
of Coke Studio Africa where she collaborates and performs with
Nigeria's Burna Boy.
Kili Music Tour; Vanessa Mdee was among the artists that
graced the Kili Music Tour 2014 stage in Mwanza and the finale in Dar es
Salaam. Serengeti Fiesta Music Tour 2014 – Sambaza Upendo (Swahili for 'Spread
Love'); Vanessa Mdee was on Tanzania's biggest nationwide music tour, covering
various regions. The tour final took place on Saturday, 18 October 2014 in Dar
es Salaam where American rapper T.I graced the stage; other acts included
Diamond, Davido, Waje, Victoria Kimani, Patoranking to name a few.
Vanessa Mdee received an endorsement deal from Crown Paints,
to be its brand ambassador in Tanzania. Crown Paints is a number one paint
manufacturing company in Eastern Africa.
AFRIMA Awards; Vanessa Mdee nominated for two
categories: Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa and Best
African RNB & Soul[9] in
the All Africa Music Awards. On 27 December, Vanessa Mdee won Best Female
Artiste in Eastern Africa award in Lagos, Nigeria.
On 8 November, Vanessa Mdee joined forces with another
Tanzanian songbird Barnaba Elias to release their latest up tempo Afro Pop
duet Siri. It tells the tale of a cunning young man who tries to
convince a young bride to embark on a love affair with him, with promises of
plenty material things. Despite her upbringing the story ends at a crossroads,
leaving the listener wondering. Siri is already rising fast on
the Tanzania radio charts plus East African charts. Later on 8 December, the
much anticipated video for Hawajui was premiered on MTV
Base and has gone on to capture the attention of the African continent
and beyond.
2015: Samsung, ESSENCE, ONE.org, Awards
Early this year, Vanessa Mdee signed a brand ambassadorship
deal with Samsung Tanzania. Vanessa has continued to attract a lot of attention
from plenty of corporations due to her enormous talent and continued effort to
grow her brand.
On 26 March 2015, Vanessa Mdee released her fifth
single Nobody But Me where she joins with heavy hitting South
African rapper K.O on. Composed by Vanessa Mdee, Ntokozo Mdluli and Nahreel,
the light hearted collabo will transcend from the airwaves to the club. Nobody
But Me is already topping charts in various countries in Africa.
On 4 April 2015 – Vanessa Mdee performed in Lagos, Nigeria
at the Gidi Culture Festival known to be Africa's biggest beach festival, that
was presented by Eclipse Live and Lagos State. The festival was held at Eko
Atlantic. Vanessa Mdee shared the stage with some of the continent's top
artists like Burna Boy, Awilo Longomba, M.I, Waje, Sean Tizzle, Victoria
Kimani, Efya, Skales and many more. Vanessa Mdee was the only artist
representing Tanzania at the festival.
Vanessa Mdee is up for three Kilimanjaro Music Awards[10] i.e.
Female Artist of the Year, Female Entertainer of the Year and Afropop Song of
the Year. The awards are set to take place 15 June 2015 in Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania. Vanessa Mdee's also nominated for Favorite Female Artist at
Tanzania's People's Choice Awards Tuzo Za Watu that take place
on 22 May 2015 in Dar es Salaam.
May 13, 2015 Vanessa Mdee joined forces with arguably seven
of Africa’s most popular songstresses for ONE[11] mission
and ONE mission only – Celebrating girl power! The campaign is calling on world
leaders to put girls and women in the forefront in 2015. This is the year when
the new development goals will be set by world leaders at the United Nations.
Apart from Vanessa Mdee, the other artists are Victoria Kimani (Kenya), Judith
Sephuma (South Africa), Waje (Nigeria), Arielle T (Gabon), Gabriela
(Mozambique), Yemi Alade (Nigeria), Selomor Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe) and Blessing
Nwafor. The song promotes the Poverty is Sexist Campaign globally, and will be
officially launched in Nigeria, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa during
the World Economic Forum for Africa and the African Union Heads of State
Summit. The song is released in conjunction with a report by ONE titled,
"Poverty is Sexist: Why girls and women must be at the heart of the fight
to end extreme poverty". The report shows how unlocking women’s economic
potential could improve the lives of everyone in society. It also illustrates
the structural nature of the social, economic, political and cultural barriers
that militate against women and girls. The campaign has a petition which is
calling on world leaders to track the fight against inequality and injustice by
investing more in women and girls if the world is to end extreme poverty by
2030.
June 23, 2015 Vanessa Mdee took home two KTMA Awards
for Female Artist of the Year and Best Female
Entertainer.[12] The
awards were held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – which takes place every year.
Essence[13] a
popular US magazine – hadn't shot a cover in Africa since 1978. They decided it
was time. They travelled to East Africa and photographed Erykah Badu[14] in
Zanzibar, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya for the August issue. Vanessa Mdee
features in this Essence issue where she opens up about Tanzania, her music,
inspiration and many more.[15]
2016: Music, Mombasa Rocks, One Africa Music Fest, Fiesta
Tour
The Mombasa Rocks festival was held at the Mombasa Golf Club
- Kenya on October 8, 2016. Vanessa Mdee delivering an electrifying performance[16] was
among the headliners that featured international singing sensation Chris Brown,
Nigeria's Wizkid, Tanzania's Alikiba and others.
Fiesta Tour: Vanessa among other Tanzanian music artists
have been touring various cities in the country. Vanessa has performed in
Dodoma, Morogoro, Arusha & is set to perform at the finale in Dar es
Salaam.
One Africa Music Festival: Vanessa performed live at the
Toyota Center - Houston [17] on
Saturday, October 22, 2016. This unforgettable night featured Africa’s finest such
as Nigerian afrobeats stars 2Face, Banky W, P-Square, Dbanj, Olamide, Flavour,
Kcee, Harrysongs, DR Congolese Fally Ipupa, South African duo Mafikizolo, East
Africa’s Vanessa Mdee, and many more
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