Aslay, who was a member of the defunct Yamoto music band that comprised Mbosso, Beka Flavour and Enock Bella, said the band disintegrated because of Rayvanny.
Speaking during an interview with Millard Ayo, Aslay admitted that Yamoto was already on its deathbed but stressed that Rayvanny hammered the final nail in the band’s coffin when he was unveiled by Diamond Platnumz’s record label Wasafi.
Rayvanny joined Wasafi in 2016 and he was immediately gifted a Toyota Rav 4 by the label to use for his commutes. (He quit the label in July 2022.)
Aslay recalled that when Yamoto members saw Wasafi gifting Rayvanny the 4 by 4 they became greedy and thought they could each achieve the same feat as Vanny Boy if they pursued solo careers.
The ‘Inauma’ hit maker noted that Yamoto members were emboldened to go their separate ways after Rayvanny’s debut at Wasafi since they had also started recording their own solo projects.
“Nakumbuka wakati Rayvanny anatoka si tulikua Europe tour, tulikua tuko Ulaya. Rayvanny akapewa Rav 4 kipindi kile nakumbuka. Sasa unajua tena sisi ndo Yamoto tunaiona hii inaregarega na tulikua tushaanza kurecord bwana, kila mtu anarecord nyimbo yake moja moja. Kwa hio vile Rayvanny alivyotoka kila mtu anatamani kumbe ‘dah ata na mimi naweza nkafanya kitu kama hiki nami nkapata kama mimi’. Unajua unapopata elfu kumi alafu munagawana sijui elfu tatu tatu, dah kumbe elfu kumi mimi naweza nkaimiliki peakangu. Pale ndo tamaa zilipokuja moja kwa moja,” Aslay said.
Aslay disclosed that he was the first one to quit the Yamoto band and went on to record and release his first solo track ‘Kidawa’ before other members followed suit.
“Nilianza mimi nakumbuka nkatoa nyimbo yangu inaitwa ‘Kidawa’, wakaja kina Beka wakatoa nyimbo zao ndo kundi limeenda hivyo hivyo. Kusema ukweli mwisho mwisho hivi kundi lilikua linaonekana liko linaenda kupotea kwa sababu kila kitu kilikua kinashuka sio pale ambapo tunategemea kinaenda,” the singer said.
Aslay further disclosed that their former manager Mkubwa Fella, who is also one of Diamond Platnumz’s managers and a big boss at Wasafi, tried to stop them from going their separate ways in vain.
“Alijaribu kufanya vitu kama hivyo lakini kuna time akona hawa watu wazima na washanza kukua na kuona kitu gani wanatamani,” Aslay said.
Yamoto glory days
Yamoto music band dominated the music scene in Tanzania and the larger East African region in the mid-2010s with its contemporary Bongo Flava music.
The quartet achieved commercial success with several hit songs, including ‘Nitakupwelepweta,’ ‘Nisambazie Raha’, ‘Cheza Kwa Madoido’ among other hit songs.
Yamoto travelled far and wide to perform during their heydays. Their musical success was perhaps demonstrated when their former manager Mkubwa Fella bought each of them mansions.
Aslay talked about the state of their mansions during the recent interview with Millard Ayo.
However, like many music groups, Yamoto Band eventually faced internal challenges and differences among its members. These issues led to the group’s breakup in 2017, with members pursuing solo careers in the music industry.
Of the four members of the defunct Yamoto Band, Mbosso is arguably the most successful followed by Aslay.
After the group split, each musician went on to pursue their individual careers with Enock Bella and Beka Flavour struggling to find a footing.
