TANZANIA, Aug. 16 -- WHEN Bongo Flava marked its 30th anniversary in Dar es Salaam and Mwanza recently, the celebrations were meant to be simple acts of nostalgia.

What was expected was a clap for the pioneers, a salute to the legends, a polite tear shed and going home before traffic developed a personality.

The veterans themselves expected warm applause and the usual elders discount on criticism. They got that. Then something strange happened.

Young Tanzanians, many born long after some of these songs first bullied their way onto radio, began singing along with suspicious accuracy.

Not just the chorus. These were not wedding guests mumbling safely near the buffet. They knew verses, bridges, adlibs and possibly the producers cousin wh...