Vanessa Mdee: I have quit Radio for Music

Speaking publicly about the subject for the first time, the songstress said she had quit her job at Tanzania's Choice FM to help her fully concentrate on her music career.

'Nimesitisha kwa muda kazi ya utangazaji ili kupa muziki kipao mbele. Mimi ni msanii kwanza. I just do music' (I have stopped presenting so as to give music the first priority. I am an artist first.)

'Kwa sababu ya kuwa na show nyingi nje ya Dar es Salaam na kushoot video nyingi katika nchi za nje, niliona ni kama nilikuwa nawakwaza mabosi wangu.' (Because of having many shows outside Dar es Salaam and shooting many videos out of the country, I saw as if I was inconveniencing my bosses).

Vanessa was speaking during her interview with Mseto's Willy M Tuva, where she had gone to promote her fifth single 'Nobody but me featuring South Africa's K.O.

The songstress also revealed that she had kept her relationship with fellow musician and R&B star Jux under the wraps because she is a private person.

'Muda wake ulikuwa haujafikia  kuongelea. Foundation ilipokuwa stable ndio tukaanza kuongelea.' (The time had not come to talk about the relationship. When our foundation was stable, we started to talk about it.)

Vanessa revealed she had already done projects with Kenyan musicians Juliani, Sauti Sol and Victoria Kimani.

The musician, whose relationship with Tanzania's B Heats had ended early in her career, said as long as one was talented, one was bound to succeed.  

'Kipaji si kitu ambacho unaweza nyang'anywa na mtu yeyote. Kama kipaji kipo utafaulu.' (Talent is not something someone can take away from you, as long as talent is there, one will succeed.)

Vanessa's 10 song album, Money Mondays, will be out at the end of the year.

By Maureen Murimi