Tanzanian musician Kidampa OG broke down in an emotional street interview on August 24 after receiving news of the death of elder Mzee Saidi Kibore, a man he described as a father figure whose guidance shaped everything he had become.

The interview, conducted by Battle TV, captured a visibly shaken Kidampa struggling to hold himself together as he recounted the moment the devastating news reached him.

How Kidampa Learned of the Loss

He was in Kibaha when a phone call arrived informing him that Mzee Saidi Kibore had passed on. According to Kidampa, the elder had been unwell, with pressure and related health complications cited as the cause of death. He recalled that just the day before the passing, he had spoken with the mzee and sensed something was wrong.

"Yesterday I called and was told he had gotten worse, been rushed to hospital, and had died," he said, his voice heavy with grief.

What made the blow harder to absorb was that the two had only recently spoken at length about ongoing work and future plans they had hoped to bring to fruition together.

A Bond That Ran Deeper Than Music

Kidampa traced the roots of their relationship back to Nandani, where he first met Mzee Saidi Kibore. From that early encounter, the elder became a constant presence in his life, offering counsel and wisdom that went well beyond music.

"I used to say he was my father. I learnt so much through him," Kidampa said, adding that the elder was the kind of person who could walk alongside someone through the most difficult seasons of life.

He reflected on one of the most lasting lessons the mzee had imparted: that life demands forward movement, that stagnation is not an option, and that one must continue fighting for whatever they love until it is fully realised.

"The foundation is to keep fighting for what you love. That is what remains in my heart as life," he said, his words carrying the weight of both grief and resolve.

Kidampa described the loss as a massive gap, not only in his personal life but in the music world as a whole. He urged those mourning alongside him to find strength in the memory of a man who lived purposefully and gave generously to those around him.

Here is the interview: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1037572045731983