Watu Fresh Redefine Bongo Flava with authenticity and passion

Born and raised in different backgrounds, both Yusuph Said, better known as Mr Kesho, and Thomas William, who goes by his stage name Max Million, have always been passionate about music and hope to become big music stars one day.

Together known as ‘Watu Fresh’, Mr Kesho and Max Million didn’t come from a world of privilege; instead, the two began their musical journey in their respective neighbourhoods, far from the glitz and glamour of the mainstream music scene.

“I grew up listening to music, all types of music, from our home radio, and by then we were using a battery-powered radio. My biggest quarrel with my mom was that I always made her radio batteries run out of power,” shares Max Million in a one-on-one interview with The Beat.

Mr Kesho, for his part, had always been drawn into rap music, growing up listening to the likes of Professor Jay, Juma Nature, Inspekta Haroun, and others.

“Sometimes I would gather a crowd in a classroom, rapping like Prof Jay. In school, I was always the guy for anything entertainment-related. I loved music, fashion, dancing, and football,” details Mr Kesho.

Max Million started producing beats from a fellow hustler’s studio; meanwhile, Mr Kesho, with a desire to share his talent, began writing lyrics and featuring other established artistes.

It was a chance encounter at Masauti Entertainment Studios at Tabata in Dar es Salaam, where Max Million and Mr Kesho had an opportunity to record their singles separately, bringing them together.

“In our music hustle, I used to hang out at the Masauti Entertainment studio. For a while, Max and I were never present at the same time in the studio. But one day I found him in the studio recording a song. We vibed and started writing and producing songs together—collaborations,” shared Mr Kesho.

Their shared love for music and mutual respect for each other’s craft and talent sparked instant creative chemistry. The two started to create songs, and their music quickly evolved and blended the gritty realism of their hustle and humble beginnings with aspirational themes of success and perseverance.

It did not occur to them that they could become a duo, not until Masauti Management suggested it.

“They thought we would work perfectly together and go the extra mile if we became a duo,” they both shared. That idea wasn’t sublime at first; at least I thought so,” says Max Million.

He adds that he did ask the question, thinking, “How could that be? Yes, we’ve worked together and featured each other in different songs, but I felt like we did different music, so I gave it a try.

For Mr Kesho, becoming a duo was also shocking news; it wasn’t something he thought he would have done, considering how many music groups and duos are there and have broken up.

“But that was one of the best pieces of advice I had ever received. We were given time and choice, and I decided to give it a go and see what happened. Here we are,” shares Mr Kesho heartily.

That was when the name ‘Watu Fresh’ was born. The name symbolises the social life of Mr Kesho and Max Million; listening to their songs, they give off an unruffled vibe and cool messages.

“They said the world needs cool people, happy people, people with positive energy, so they named us Watu Fresh to bring that energy to Bongo music scenes,” shares Max Million.

Like many emerging artistes, Watu Fresh faced their fair share of setbacks but recovered quickly. They produced several songs from Girlfriend, Mama, Never Give Up, Pale Pale, Za Kichwa, Wololo, Odo Odo, and others.

Their determination paid off when some of their songs, such as ‘Wololo’, ‘Odo Odo’, and their current ‘Sina Ubaya’, went viral on different social media platforms, including TikTok and YouTube, gaining thousands of streams overnight.

This unexpected success caught the attention of music industry insiders, who recognised the duo’s potential. In less than six months, Watu Fresh had already captured the ears and hearts of bongo music fans. The duo received an invitation to grace Fiesta’s stage for the first time in different parts of Tanzania, including Mtwara, Dodoma, Arusha, and the climax in Dar es Salaam.

“That moment will always stand out every time I think about our journey in the music industry since we became a duo. We couldn’t sleep for two weeks because we were always rehearsing. In my head, I was worried that we didn’t have even four months in the game. What if fans don’t know us yet?”

This year, Watu Fresh were nominated as the ‘Best Upcoming Artistes for 2022. Their unique blend of storytelling, authenticity, and catchy beats sets them apart in a crowded Bongo Flava landscape. With the support of Masauti Entertainment, their songs currently receive acclaim from Bongo Street and cement their status as rising stars.

“There was a time when we were invited to the birthday party of a fellow artiste.” We weren’t performing that night, but shockingly, when we got there, a crowd gathered, taking photos with us and giving us gifts. It felt good,” shared Mr Kesho.

Max Million added, “Some weren’t even Tanzanians; others were singing ‘Sina Ubaya’. I always knew I wanted to be a star, but living it gives me this pleasant feeling.

As Watu Fresh continues to rise, they remain grounded in their roots and name, ‘cool people’. They use their platform to inspire other aspiring artistes from similar humble beginnings to chase their dreams.

Their music speaks to a generation that values genuineness and story-telling in Bongo Flava, and their journey is a statement of the idea that with talent, hard work, and a bit of luck, anyone can make it in the music industry.

“Our goal is always to push Bongo Flava music an extra mile from where it is right now,” shares Watu Fresh.

They add, “Watu Fresh are not just a music duo but a symbol of hope for those who dare to dream big, no matter where one is.”

From their modest beginnings to their impending stardom, Watu Fresh’s story is a reminder that the journey is just as important as the destination in the world of music.