Veteran Bongo Flava artist Abdul Sykes, known as Dully Sykes, has expressed heartfelt gratitude to fellow Tanzanian star Ali Saleh Kiba, popularly known as Alikiba, for their recent collaboration on the hit song Zali. The track, released on December 6, 2024, has quickly captured the hearts of fans and achieved remarkable success.
The collaboration follows a reconciliation earlier this year between the two artists. Dully revealed in an interview with Crown FM, a station owned by Alikiba, that their relationship had previously been strained. According to Dully, he had blocked Alikiba after feeling let down when his initial request for a collaboration went unanswered. However, they resolved their differences during the interview, setting the stage for their joint effort on Zali.
Dully also shared how their studio session for Zali unfolded. When Alikiba suggested that Dully contribute melodies to the song, Dully instead encouraged Alikiba to take full creative control. “When we got to the studio, Ali told me, ‘You should also add your melodies, at least two.’ But I told him, ‘No. What’s needed here is for you to write the entire song and handle everything. I’ll simply follow your flow,’” Dully recounted.
READ MORE: “Zali” by Dully Sykes ft. Alikiba: A Captivating Tale of Love and Urban Life
The song’s release has been met with widespread acclaim. Fans have embraced it enthusiastically, creating challenges and sharing the track across social media platforms. Within two weeks of its release, Zali climbed to the top of YouTube’s trending charts in Tanzania, amassing over one million views.
Dully, 44, took to Instagram to celebrate the success of the song and express his gratitude to Alikiba. He posted a picture of Alikiba with the caption, “THANK YOU, KING 👑 …. YOU’VE HONORED ME!! 🫡 #kumikwammoja @officialalikiba #ZALI🔥🙌🏼”.
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For Dully, the collaboration is particularly meaningful as it represents a moment of full-circle reciprocity. He played a pivotal role in launching Alikiba’s music career by introducing him to the studio for the first time. Reflecting on Alikiba’s contribution to Zali, Dully described it as a heartfelt gesture of appreciation, saying that Alikiba had “returned the favor 100%.”
The collaboration between Dully Sykes and Alikiba not only highlights their musical talents but also underscores the power of reconciliation and mutual respect in the Tanzanian music industry.
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