Rayvanny: The Life Story Behind Tanzania's Chui Star

Rayvanny moves like a leopard. That is what his nickname means, Chui, and it fits him perfectly. He is quick on stage, he is sharp with a chorus, and he never stands still for long. His real name is Raymond Shaban Mwakyusa, he was born in Mbeya in 1993, and in less than ten years he went from a boy in the southern highlands of Tanzania to one of the biggest pop stars in East Africa. His songs Kwetu and Tetema played everywhere, his album Sound From Africa took his music to new countries, and his label Next Level Music showed that he wanted to be a boss, not just a singer.

He started in Mbeya, a city far from Dar es Salaam, where the big studios are. He had to travel to the capital, learn the music business, and earn a place in WCB Wasafi, the biggest label in Tanzania. He did that, and he learned from Diamond Platnumz, the star who signed him. Then, in 2022, he walked away from that label and built his own. That is a bold move, and it is the heart of his story. He bet on himself, and he is still betting on himself today.

This account follows him from Mbeya to Dar es Salaam, through his biggest songs, through his break with WCB, and into his life as the leader of Next Level Music.

Mbeya: Hills, Farms, and a Boy Who Sang

Mbeya sits in the southern highlands of Tanzania, near the borders with Zambia and Malawi. It is cooler than Dar es Salaam, it is greener, and life there moves at a different pace. People farm, they trade, and they listen to music on the radio while they work. Raymond grew up in that world, and he learned to be tough, to be friendly, and to make the best of what he had.

He was born on 22 June 1993, and he spent his childhood in Mbeya with his family. He went to school, he played with friends, and he sang whenever he could. He liked the songs on the radio, especially the Bongo Flava songs from Dar es Salaam, and he tried to copy the singers he heard. He was not the quietest boy in the class. He was the one who sang, who danced, and who made people laugh.

His family did not have much money, and there was no music school in Mbeya that could teach him to be a pop star. What he had was a voice that people noticed, and a hunger to be heard. He sang at school, he sang at local events, and he began to dream of Dar es Salaam, the city where the studios were, where the radio stations played the hits, and where a young singer could become famous.

That dream was not easy. Many boys in Mbeya had the same dream, and most of them never left. Raymond did leave, and the reason was not luck alone. It was the voice, the energy, and the refusal to give up. He kept singing, he kept practising, and he kept looking for a way to the capital.

The Road to Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam is a long way from Mbeya, and the journey is not just about distance. It is about leaving home, leaving family, and starting again in a city where no one knows your name. Raymond made that journey as a young man, and he arrived in a city full of talented singers who all wanted the same thing. He had to find a studio, find a producer, and find a way to be heard.

He started small. He recorded songs, he performed at small shows, and he built a following one fan at a time. His style was fast and rhythmic, and it stood out because it was full of energy. He did not sing slow, sad songs. He sang songs that made people move, and that energy helped him to be noticed in a crowded scene.

He also learned how the music business worked in Dar es Salaam. He learned that a good song needs a good producer, a good video, and good promotion. He learned that a singer has to work hard, not just in the studio, but also on social media, on radio, and on stage. Those lessons were hard, but they were useful, and they prepared him for what came next.

The turning point came when Diamond Platnumz heard him. Diamond was the biggest star in Tanzania, and he was looking for new talent for his label, WCB Wasafi. He saw something in the young singer from Mbeya, and he gave him a chance. That chance changed Raymond’s life, and it gave him the platform he had been working for.

WCB Wasafi: A Big Stage, a Big Teacher

WCB Wasafi, founded by Diamond in 2015, was the biggest label in Tanzania. It had producers, it had a brand, and it had fans who followed everything it released. For a young singer from Mbeya, joining WCB was like joining the national team. It gave him a studio, a team, and a name that opened doors. Raymond joined in 2015, and he threw himself into the work.

He learned from Diamond, who had come from Tandale, a poor part of Dar es Salaam, and who had built himself into a continental star. Diamond taught him how to make a hit, how to perform, and how to handle fame. He also taught him how to work with producers, how to choose a song, and how to make a video that people would watch again and again. Those lessons were worth more than money.

His first songs with WCB were popular, and his name began to spread. Fans in Dar es Salaam knew him, fans in other Tanzanian cities knew him, and soon fans in Kenya and Uganda knew him too. He was no longer a newcomer from Mbeya. He was Rayvanny, a star of WCB, and a singer with a future.

He also learned how to be part of a team. WCB had many artists, and they worked together, they performed together, and they helped each other. Raymond was part of that team, and he learned the value of working with others, even as he was building his own name. That teamwork helped him, and it helped the label, and it is part of why WCB became so powerful.

Kwetu and Tetema: Two Songs That Took Over

Every star needs a song that everyone knows, and Rayvanny got two of them. Kwetu was one of his early hits, a song that felt both local and modern, with a beat that made people dance and a chorus that people sang along to. It played on radio, it played in clubs, and it played at parties across Tanzania. It showed that Rayvanny could carry a song on his own, and that he was not just a singer in Diamond’s shadow.

Tetema, with Diamond, was even bigger. It was fast, it was fun, and it was made for dancing. It became one of the most popular Tanzanian songs of its time, and it played in clubs from Dar es Salaam to Nairobi to Kampala. Fans loved the energy of the song, and they loved the way Rayvanny and Diamond worked together. It was a perfect example of what WCB could do when its stars joined forces.

Those two songs gave Rayvanny a signature sound, a fast and rhythmic style that people recognised at once. They also gave him a fan base that stretched beyond Tanzania, because Tetema travelled on social media and on streaming, and it reached listeners who had never been to Dar es Salaam. That travel was important, because it showed that his music could cross borders.

After Kwetu and Tetema, there was no going back. Rayvanny was a star, and his fans expected a hit every time he released a song. That expectation was heavy, but it was also a sign of how much people trusted his ear for music. He kept working, he kept recording, and he kept giving his fans new songs to dance to.

Sound From Africa: An Album for a Continent

In 2021, Rayvanny released Sound From Africa, an album that showed how far he had come. It was not just a collection of Tanzanian songs. It was an album that mixed Bongo Flava with Afrobeat, with Amapiano, and with sounds from other parts of Africa. It featured collaborations with artists from different countries, and it showed a singer who was thinking beyond his home country.

The album was a statement. It said that Rayvanny was not just a Tanzanian star. He was an African star, and he wanted his music to be heard across the continent. He worked with producers from different countries, he tried new beats, and he sang in a way that appealed to listeners who did not speak Swahili. That openness helped his music to travel, and it gave him new fans in Nigeria, in South Africa, and in other countries.

Sound From Africa also showed his growth as an artist. An album is a bigger test than a single song, because it asks a singer to hold a listener’s attention for many tracks. Rayvanny passed that test, with songs about love, about celebration, and about life, all sung with the energy that had made him famous. The album was widely discussed, and it gave his fans a collection they could play again and again.

He performed songs from the album at festivals and at concerts across Africa, and those shows helped to build his name as a continental star. He learned how to perform for different crowds, how to sing for people who did not know his songs, and how to win them over with energy and with a good chorus. That learning is part of why he is still a star today.

Next Level Music: Walking Away and Starting Again

In 2022, Rayvanny made the biggest decision of his career. He left WCB Wasafi and started his own label, Next Level Music. The news spread fast in Tanzania, and fans argued about it for months. Some said he was brave. Others said he was making a mistake. The truth was more complicated, because leaving a big label is never simple.

A big label gives a singer a studio, a team, and a safety net. Leaving it means building all of those things yourself, while still making music and performing. Rayvanny took on that challenge, and he began to build Next Level as a home for his own work and for younger artists. He signed singers, he worked with producers, and he tried to create a label that reflected his own style.

The move also changed his relationship with Diamond. They had been mentor and student, and now they were rivals in a way, even if they still respected each other. That change was hard, and it was discussed in the press for a long time. Rayvanny tried to focus on his music, but the story of his departure followed him, and it shaped how people talked about him.

Despite the challenges, he kept releasing music under Next Level, and he kept performing. He proved that his fans were loyal to him, not just to the label he had left. That loyalty is a valuable thing, because it means his audience will follow him wherever he goes. It is a sign of a real star, and it is one reason Next Level has survived.

Chui on Stage: Dance, Energy, and a Leopard’s Pace

On stage, Rayvanny is a dancer first and a singer second, or maybe both at once. He moves fast, he jumps, he talks to the crowd, and he makes a concert feel like a party. Fans who go to his shows expect to dance, to sing, and to leave tired and happy. He gives them that, night after night, and that is why promoters keep booking him.

His nickname, Chui, means leopard, and it fits the way he performs. A leopard is fast, it is strong, and it is always ready to move. Rayvanny is the same on stage. He does not stand still. He moves across the stage, he dances with his band, and he makes the crowd move with him. That energy is hard to fake, and it is one reason his shows are so popular.

He also knows how to use social media to stay close to his fans. He posts videos, he shares clips from his shows, and he announces new songs directly to his followers. That direct link is important in a world where music travels on phones, and Rayvanny has used it well. He does not wait for radio to play his songs. He puts them out himself, and his fans share them.

His fashion is part of the show, too. He dresses in a bold and modern way, and his videos show a young man who is confident and stylish. That image helps him to appeal to young fans who see him as a symbol of success. He understands that a pop star today is not just a voice. He is also a picture, a story, and a brand, and he works hard on all three.

Mbeya Today: A Star Who Remembers Home

Even after becoming famous, Rayvanny has not forgotten Mbeya. He talks about his home town with pride, and he returns there to perform and to see his family. That loyalty matters, because many stars leave their home town and never look back. Rayvanny looks back often, and he brings what he learns in Dar es Salaam back to Mbeya, in new music, in new ideas, and in support for young singers from the south.

Young people in Mbeya look up to him, and they ask him for advice about music, about recording, and about handling fame. He tells them to work hard, to practise, and to believe in themselves. He also tells them that talent can come from anywhere, and that a small city in the highlands can produce a big star. That message is important, because it gives hope to boys and girls who might otherwise give up before they start.

His family in Mbeya remains important to him, and he has spoken about the sacrifices they made for him. He did not become a star alone. He had a family that believed in him, friends who supported him, and a city that shaped him. That support is part of his story, and it is part of why he is still grounded, even as a famous singer.

Today, Rayvanny is still one of the leading singers in Tanzania, a man in his early thirties who has already lived a full career. He has been a WCB star, a solo artist, and a label boss, and he is still changing. His place in Tanzanian music is secure, and his story, from Mbeya to Dar es Salaam to Next Level, will be told for many years to come.

The Songs People Sing Back

Ask a fan in Dar es Salaam to name a Rayvanny song, and they will not name one. They will name three, and then they will start singing the chorus. That is the mark of a catalogue that has become part of daily life. His songs are played in taxis, where drivers turn the volume up and passengers sing along, and in markets, where traders work to a beat that makes the day go faster. They are played at weddings, where the bride and groom dance to a fast Bongo Flava beat, and at birthdays, where children who were not born when the song came out still know the words. A song that lives in all those places is not just a hit. It is a piece of the city.

He writes about love in a way that feels close to home. His love songs are not about faraway palaces or about people who live in another world. They are about a young man who loves a woman in Dar es Salaam, about a woman who waits for a man who works late, about a couple who argue and then dance together. That closeness is why listeners trust his words. They hear their own lives in his songs, and they feel that he is singing for them, not just for himself.

He also writes about celebration, about Friday nights, about friends, and about the joy of being young in Tanzania. Those songs are like invitations to a party, and they make listeners want to dance, even when they are at home alone. That joy is his trademark, and it is why his music is played at every kind of celebration in the country. A Rayvanny song does not ask you to sit still. It asks you to move, and most people answer that call.

Collaborations Across Africa

Rayvanny has worked with singers from many African countries, and those collaborations have helped his music to travel. He has sung with artists from Nigeria, from Kenya, and from other parts of East Africa, and each collaboration has brought a new sound and a new set of fans. When a Tanzanian singer works with a Nigerian singer, the music crosses borders, and fans in both countries learn about a new style. Rayvanny has done that work, and he has helped Bongo Flava to travel beyond Tanzania.

Those collaborations are not easy to make. A singer has to learn a new beat, a new way of writing, and a new way of performing, all while keeping his own style. Rayvanny has learned how to do that, and he has made songs that sound fresh in different markets. He has sung in Swahili, he has sung in English, and he has mixed both in a way that feels natural. That openness has helped him to reach listeners who do not speak Swahili, and to build a fan base that stretches across the continent.

He has also learned from those collaborations, because working with a singer from another country teaches you new things about music. He has learned new rhythms, new melodies, and new ways of writing a chorus. That learning has kept his music fresh, and it has helped him to stay relevant in a world where African pop changes fast. He does not chase every trend, but he listens, and he takes what fits his style.

His collaborations have also given him a wider audience for his own label, Next Level Music, because fans who discover him through a collaboration often go on to listen to his solo songs. That discovery is a valuable thing for a singer who has left a big label, and it is one reason Rayvanny has survived as an independent artist. His music travels, and it brings new listeners with it, wherever it goes.

His story also carries a lesson for any young singer who starts far from the big city. Mbeya is not Dar es Salaam, and it does not have the studios, the radio stations, or the crowds of the capital. Yet a boy from Mbeya reached the top of Tanzanian pop, and he did it by singing, by dancing, and by refusing to stop. That refusal is the real engine of his career, and it is worth more than any single hit, because hits fade and a strong work ethic lasts.

My Take:

I think Rayvanny is a star who brings pure energy to Tanzanian music, and I mean that as a compliment. When I listen to his songs, I hear a singer who wants people to move, to dance, and to feel happy. That is a simple goal, but it is not an easy one to achieve. Many singers try to make a dance song and fail, because the beat is wrong or the chorus is weak. Rayvanny gets it right again and again, and I think that is a real skill.

What I admire most is his speed and his confidence on stage. He does not walk on stage and stand still. He moves, he dances, and he makes the crowd move with him. That kind of energy is hard to fake, and it is one reason his live shows are so popular. I also admire the way he sings with a strong and rhythmic voice, because it fits his songs perfectly. He does not try to be a smooth love singer. He tries to be an exciting pop star, and he succeeds.

I also admire the way he built Next Level Music, because building a label is much harder than singing a song. He left the biggest label in Tanzania, and he tried to stand on his own. That takes courage, and I respect that courage, even when I think the move was not always easy. I would tell a young singer to learn from that, to think about owning their work, and to plan for a career that lasts beyond one song.

I think his song Tetema deserves special praise, because it is a song that people will remember for a long time. It is fast, it is fun, and it is made for dancing. It played in clubs, at parties, and on radio across East Africa, and it became part of people’s lives. That is a real achievement, and it is one that I value more than any award.

I also think about his roots in Mbeya, and about what it means for a boy from the southern highlands to become a star in Dar es Salaam. That journey is long, and it is hard, and it gives hope to young people in small towns across Tanzania. Rayvanny shows them that talent can come from anywhere, and that a crowded street in Mbeya can be the start of a journey to the world stage.

At the same time, I am honest about the parts of his story that trouble me. His public life has often been louder than his music, and I think that is a pity, because his music is good enough to stand on its own. When the news is about an argument or a relationship, people stop talking about the songs, and the songs are the reason he became famous.

I also think about the pressure that came with his rapid rise, because he became famous very quickly, and that speed must have been hard to handle. When you go from Mbeya to the top of Tanzanian music in only a few years, you have to learn how to handle fame, money, and criticism all at once. I think Rayvanny handled that pressure with a mix of confidence and mistakes, which is what most young people would do.

There is a lesson in his departure from WCB that I think young people should hear. Leaving a big label does not make you free on its own. It makes you responsible for everything, and that responsibility is heavy. Rayvanny learned that, and he kept working, which is the most important part of the story. A bold decision is only useful if you follow it with hard work.

I also think about his relationship with Diamond, and about how complex it must be to work with a mentor who becomes a rival. Diamond gave him his first big chance, and that is a debt that is hard to forget. Yet Rayvanny wanted to be his own boss, and that desire is also hard to ignore. I think both men have handled that relationship with a mix of respect and tension.

What I take from Rayvanny’s story, in the end, is that a career in music is built on talent, on hard work, and on bold choices. He sang, he was discovered, he became famous, he left the biggest label in Tanzania, and he built a company of his own. That is not a simple story, but it is a real story, and it shows a young man who was willing to bet on himself.

I also think about the way his music travels across East Africa, and about how a song from Tanzania can play in Kenya, in Uganda, and in other countries on the same day. That travel is a sign of a song that has crossed borders, and it shows that Rayvanny’s music is not only for one city. It is for the whole region.

Another thought that stays with me is about the young singers who copy his style today, and about what they learn when they try to sing like Rayvanny. They soon discover that energy is not only about shouting. It is about rhythm, about timing, and about knowing when to speed up and when to slow down. I think those young singers will learn more from studying his recordings than from any lesson about fame.

I also think about his live shows, and about the way he makes a large crowd dance and sing along. A singer who can do that has a gift that goes beyond a good voice. He has that gift, and he uses it to make his concerts feel like a celebration. I hope he keeps performing live, because live music is where a star truly connects with fans.

I think about his family, and about the balance he tries to keep between a loud public life and a private home life. That balance is hard for any famous person, and it is harder when the public life includes rivalry and criticism. I hope his children see the hard work behind the fame, and not only the headlines.

I also think about the future of Next Level Music, and about whether it will become a label that lasts for many years. A label lasts when it finds new talent, when it gives young singers a real chance, and when it builds a team that can survive without its founder. Rayvanny has started that work, and I hope he continues it.

There is also a lesson in the way he handled criticism, because a star who is always in the news will always have critics. He has responded at times with new music, and at times by simply continuing to work. I think the best response to criticism is new music, because a good song can answer a critic in a way that words cannot.

I think about his collaborations with artists from other African countries, and about how those collaborations helped his music to travel. When a Tanzanian singer works with a Nigerian singer, the music crosses borders, and fans in both countries learn about a new sound. Rayvanny did that work, and he helped Bongo Flava to travel beyond Tanzania.

Finally, I think his story is a reminder that a career is not a straight line. It goes up and down, it takes unexpected turns, and it asks a person to keep learning and keep changing. Rayvanny went from Mbeya to WCB, from WCB to Next Level Music, and he is still changing. I respect that change, and I hope he keeps singing, keeps building, and keeps dancing.

I will keep listening to his new music with interest, because I want to see how Chui grows next, and because I believe that a singer who has already taken so many risks will keep taking them. That willingness to risk is what makes his story worth telling.

I also think about the way his songs sound on a quiet night, when there is no crowd and no stage, only a radio and a listener who knows the words by heart. A song that still sounds good when it is played softly has a quality that no amount of noise can fake. Rayvanny passes that test more often than people think.

Another thought that stays with me is about the business side of his career, and about how important it is for a young star to own his work and to understand his contracts. Rayvanny learned that side of music through WCB and through Next Level, and I hope he keeps learning it, because talent can make you famous, but business sense can keep you free.

I think about the young boy in Mbeya who is listening to Rayvanny today, and about what that boy sees when he looks at the star. He sees a man who came from a place like his own, who spoke his language, and who became famous across Africa. That picture can change a life, because it tells the boy that his own dreams are not foolish.

Finally, I think Rayvanny’s story shows that energy, hard work, and courage can take a person very far. He had a voice that people loved, he had the courage to leave a big label, and he had the energy to keep performing night after night. Those three things together made him a star, and I think they will keep him a star for many years to come, wherever his fans are listening.

I also think about the way his music sounds in a car on a long road in Tanzania, with the windows down and the chorus playing loud, because that is where many of his songs are truly heard. A song that sounds good on a long road, with friends singing along, has a quality that a studio alone cannot create. Rayvanny’s songs have that quality, and I think that is why they last.

I think about the way he learned to write a chorus, because a good chorus is not easy to write. It has to be simple enough to remember after one listen, and it has to be strong enough to carry a whole song. Rayvanny has written many choruses like that, and I think that skill is the heart of his success as a pop singer.

I also think about the young artists at Next Level Music, and about what they learn from working with Rayvanny. They learn how to record, how to perform, and how to handle fame, and they learn it from a man who has lived through all of those things himself. That teaching is a valuable part of his work, even if it does not always make headlines.

I think about his fashion and his image, and about how a pop star’s clothes can tell a story about success. Rayvanny dresses in a bold and modern way, and his fans see that as a sign of a man who has come from Mbeya to the top. I understand that image, but I also hope young fans see the work behind it, not only the clothes.

I also think about the way his songs have been used at celebrations across Tanzania, at weddings, at birthdays, and at festivals where people dance for hours. A song that plays at a celebration becomes part of a family’s memory, and that is a real achievement for any singer.

I think about the pressure of being compared to Diamond and to Harmonize, because Rayvanny is often placed in the same conversation as those two stars. That comparison can be hard, but it can also push a singer to work harder. I think Rayvanny has used that comparison well, by making music that is different from both of them.

I also think about the future of Bongo Flava, and about the place Rayvanny will hold in it when the next generation looks back. I believe they will see him as a singer who brought energy and rhythm to Tanzanian pop, and who helped to take it to new audiences across Africa.

Finally, I think his story shows that a singer from a small city can become a star in a big country, and that a leopard’s speed, when it is matched with hard work and courage, can take a person very far indeed. I hope his next chapter is as bold as the ones before it, and that his music keeps making people dance across Tanzania and beyond, for many years to come, wherever his fans are listening.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where was Rayvanny born and what is his real name?

Rayvanny was born Raymond Shaban Mwakyusa on 22 June 1993 in Mbeya, in southern Tanzania. He later moved to Dar es Salaam to work in music, and he became known across East Africa as Rayvanny.

How did Rayvanny first become famous in Tanzania?

He became famous after joining WCB Wasafi in 2015 and releasing popular songs, including Kwetu and Tetema featuring Diamond Platnumz. The label gave him studio time, promotion, and a large audience, and his energetic style helped his songs spread quickly.

What does the nickname Chui mean for Rayvanny?

Chui means leopard in Swahili, and it is Rayvanny’s well known nickname. It reflects his fast, confident, and energetic style on stage, and it has become a central part of his brand.

Why did Rayvanny leave WCB Wasafi?

He left WCB in 2022 to build his own label, Next Level Music, and to have more control over his music and his business. The move was widely discussed in Tanzania, and he has continued to release music under Next Level since then.

What is Sound From Africa in Rayvanny’s career?

Sound From Africa, released in 2021, was his major album, mixing Bongo Flava with Afrobeat and other African sounds. It showed his range as a singer and his ambition to reach listeners beyond Tanzania.

Which Rayvanny song is best known for dancing?

Tetema, featuring Diamond Platnumz, is one of his best known dance songs, with a fast beat and a chorus that played in clubs across East Africa. Kwetu is another song that fans love to dance to at his shows.