Alikiba

Alikiba, born Ali Saleh Kiba on 29 November 1986, is a Tanzanian singer and songwriter whose family comes from Kigoma. Fans call him King Kiba, and for more than a decade he and Diamond Platnumz have been the two poles of Bongo Flava.

He started in 2004 with “Maria”. His debut album and single “Cinderella” became East Africa’s biggest-selling record of 2008, and Ali K 4Real (2009) carried “Nakshi Mrembo” and “Usiniseme”. That same period put him on R. Kelly’s One8 project alongside Fally Ipupa, 2Face Idibia and others. After a three-year break he came back in 2014 with “Mwana”, which won him five Tanzania Music Awards, then “Aje”, “Chekecha Cheketua” and “Seduce Me”.

In 2016 he became the first East African artist signed to Sony Music. He left in 2021 to run his own label, Kings Music, home to Tommy Flavour, K2ga, Vanillah and his brother Abdu Kiba. His album Only One King (2021) won Best Album at the 2022 Tanzania Music Awards, where he took five prizes on the night. In 2024 he launched Crown FM in Dar es Salaam and released the album Starter.