BIOGRAPHY: MRISHO MPOTO

Mrisho Mpoto is an international artist based in Dar Es’ Salaam Tanzania where he works on his own theatre art company,  music and film production studio. His Company are the sister company of Limelight Music in The UK and have many connections within Scotland, England and sthe USA. The organization keeps alive the diverse traditional artistic cultures of all the East African Tribes and produces new songs and films that aim to provide vital information in education for all the people of Africa. This includes music video designed to raise awareness in the plight of the 5 African giants, aids awareness, general health and the environmental issues. The organization is currently working in collaboration with Limelight Music in order to create a national music equalities programme working with young people in schools. Their Director Mrisho Mpoto is an experienced performer and writer with an international reputation.

He is Africa’s number one Slam Poet and currently holds the title of third best in the entire world. Mrisho is a multi- award winning traditional artist who is committed to developing the skills of young people in Africa so they can find employment and engage in positive life choices.

Mrisho has worked  at The Globe Theatre London, The Tron Theatre Glasgow, Macro Bert Theatre Stirling and The Russian Tanzanian Cultural Centre where he has performed works written by William Shakespeare, Forbes Masson, Gordon Dougall, Gerry Mulgrew  and  Farouk Topan. He is a well known artist with a massive public following in Tanzania and is a well respected arts ambassador for the country.

In 2009, Mr. Mpoto continued emerging as one of the most prominent traditional artists in Tanzania and named as one of the Zeze Award winners during a colorful awards presentation gala held at the Tanzania Art Institute (TaSUBa) in Bagamoyo. On the same year, his song NIKIPATA NAULI (literally If I get bus fare) became a ‘song’ of the year and won him a first award in Tanzania’s annual music awards “Kilimanjaro Awards.

In 2011, Mpoto  received an invitation from the United States of America and Canada to participate and perform with other famous artists withing Africa and other parts of the world on the book entitled “AFRICA KILLS HER SON” by Nigerian Nobel Prize winner, Ken Sarowiwa. This was a result of a long workshop that was held in Manda Island in Kenya where his creative work was well recognized thus becoming the winning presentation and nominated to participate in the international theatre in US and Canada supported by SUNDANCE INSTITUTE.

Mrisho’s traditional music and poetry won him a second Award in Tanzania ’ s annual music awards “Kilimanjaro Awards”in the year 2012.

Mpoto has performed a Swahili version of a play MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR written by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE under the Globe to Globe Company and achieved a five star on The Guardian review (UK) in 2012. www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Mpoto has since then became unstoppable in this career as he continued attracting different people, companies as well as institutions been government, NGOs (local and International) as well as UN agencies on various issues such as Child Protection, Human rights, Sexual and Gender Based Violence and HIV/Aids in awareness campaigns through the richness of AFRICAN TRADITION.

10 Things You Didn’t Know about Idris, The Big Brother Africa Winner

Idris Sultan is the winner of the ninth season of Big Brother Africa, themed Big Brother Hotshots making him the second Tanzanian to claim the BBA $300,000 cash prize after Richard Bezuidenhout who won it in 2007. Sultan walks away with the $300 000 grand prize after spending a total of 63 days in the Big Brother house. The smart 21-year-old became well-known on the reality show after having intimate relations with a number of women in the house. Some of his fans even dubbed him “the house’s bad boy” or “Mr Lover Man”. Tayo, the Nigerian contestant had turned out to be the favourite to the jackpot but Idris’ advantage came because most countries that have allies to Tanzania which include countries like Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Zambia had bowed out of the house.

Who Exactly is Idris Sultan?

1. Idris Sultan is Tanzania’s representative in Big Brother Africa Hotshots emerged the winner of the ninth edition of the reality TV show after 63 days in the house.
2. He was inspired to enter Big Brother Hotshots because he wants to inspire people and make a name for himself in the process,’ he says. He feels ‘thrilled, excited and accomplished, totally special’ that the continent will be watching him on the show.’
What else do we Know about Idris
3. At Age: 21, Idris describes himself as ‘smart, charming, funny, flirty and creative, he is a photographer from Arusha in Tanzania.
4. We found out that his Favourite book(s) include “anything written” by Dan Brown’
5. Idris enjoys watching The Colbert Report, Drunk History, The Daily Show and The Ellen Degeneres Show on TV.
6. He was the young handsome boy who had a romantic fling with Uganda’s Ellah and Botswana’s Goitse during the show, Tayo on the other hand was the emotional boy who at some point fell out with almost every male housemate in the house.

7. His Favourite musical tastes are quite varied, and include music artists such as Chris Brown, Sam Smith, Lana Del Ray, Michael Jackson, Usher, Ed Sheeran, and Nina Simone.
8. Idris confirmed that he doesn’t have one specific role model, however, he has chosen to take the best from every successful person he meets. He also revealed that his Mom has mostly influenced his life.
9. From what we could gather from his Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages,  Idris loves photography and He’s most proud of the respect he’s earned by showcasing his skill and creativity in photography.
10. According to Israel, since Africa gave him the money he won, he would return the money back to Africa, but ‘not in cash’, as he was quick to add, noting that he would use it for developmental projects.