Vanessa Mdee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vanessa Mdee
Born	Vanessa Hau Mdee (1988-06-07) 7 June 1988 (age 37) Arusha, Tanzania
Other names	Vee Money
Occupation	Singer rapper video joskey television personality radio host
Years active	2007–2020
Partner(s)	Rotimi
Children	2
Musical career
Genres	R&B Afro pop hip hop bongo flava
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	B'hits Music Group Universal Music Group
Associated acts	Distruction Boyz DJ Tira Jux Reekado Banks P-Square Rayvanny Rotimi Cassper Nyovest

Vanessa Hau Mdee (born on June 7, 1988) is a talented singer, TV host, and radio personality from Tanzania. She is famous for being the first Tanzanian to become an MTV VJ. A VJ is someone who introduces music videos on TV.

Vanessa became well-known as a host for shows like Epic Bongo Star Search and Dume Challenge. Later, she joined B'Hits Music Group in 2012 and started her music career. She worked with rapper A.Y. on a song called Money. She also teamed up with Bongo Flava artist Ommy Dimpoz for the song Me and You. This song was even voted Song of the Year at the 2013 Kilimanjaro Music Awards.

Her first solo song, "Closer," was a huge hit. It was downloaded over 30,000 times in its first week! This was a record for a Tanzanian artist. "Closer" stayed popular on the music charts for more than 13 weeks. Vanessa has interviewed many famous artists, including Kelly Rowland and Rick Ross. In 2018, she signed with Universal Music Group. In 2020, Vanessa Mdee announced that she was leaving the music industry. She said it was due to the pressure she felt.

Early Life and Learning

Vanessa Mdee was born on June 7, 1988, in Arusha, Tanzania. Arusha is the third-largest city in the country. Vanessa grew up in different places like New York, Paris, Nairobi, and Arusha. This helped her learn about many different cultures. She went to Arusha Modern High School for her secondary education. Later, she studied law at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. Vanessa quickly became interested in creative arts and performing.

Her Career Journey

Starting with MTV VJ Search in 2007

In 2007, Vanessa Mdee tried out for The MTV VJ Search in Dar es Salaam. She got the job and then hosted the Coca-Cola Chart Express show. By 2008, Vanessa was well-known in Tanzania and across Africa. She hosted shows in many countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda. She also became known in the United States and Brazil.

Helping Others with MTV Staying Alive in 2008

In 2008, Vanessa worked with the Staying Alive Foundation. This project was very important to her. She visited Uwanja wa Fisi with Kelly Rowland, who was a special ambassador for the foundation. Vanessa also joined Malaria No More for their Z!nduka Campaign. This campaign aimed to help stop malaria.

Hosting and Fashion in 2009

In early 2009, Vanessa Mdee hosted Senses, Sounds and Wisdom with Zantel. This event was part of the Sauti Za Busara International Music Festival. It showed off the growing Swahili culture. Vanessa's great fashion sense made her a popular host for the red carpet event at the MTV Africa Music Awards. She hosted it three years in a row.

Radio and Media Projects in 2011

In 2011, Vanessa became the host of 102.5 Choice FM's The Hitlist. On this show, she played R&B, Hip-Hop, and Pop music. She also interviewed many artists, like K'Naan, Kelly Rowland, and Rick Ross.

Besides her TV show, MTV's Base Select 10, and her daily radio job, Vanessa also wrote a blog. She was a reporter for MTV Staying Alive and UNAIDS. She spoke at youth summits and conferences about health awareness. She also helped start STANDWIDTH, a project under UNAIDS.

MTV Base Meets and Music Start in 2012

In 2012, Vanessa Mdee hosted MTV Base Meets. This show helped young Africans meet important leaders. Vanessa met people like Russell Simmons and former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo. She also hosted the Kili Music Awards and Tanzania's talent show, Epiq Bongo Star Search. Vanessa also started her web series, Vee World Wide. It showed her travels and meetings with celebrities.

In 2012, Vanessa was honored in New York City by the United Nations Association of Young Professionals. She was recognized for being an African change-maker. She also received an award from the GAVI Alliance for supporting free vaccinations for Tanzanian children. In 2013, Vanessa spoke at the World Economic Forum for Africa. She talked about new, lower prices for HPV vaccines. She also spoke about cervical cancer in Malaysia. Vanessa became a GAVI Ambassador and a strong voice against cervical cancer.

Vanessa began her music career in 2012. She worked on the song "Me and You" with Ommy Dimpoz. Then, on January 13, 2013, she released her first solo song, "Closer." These songs earned her four nominations at the Kilimanjaro Tanzania Music Awards. She won "Bongo Pop Song of the Year" and "Collaboration of the Year."

Busy Year in 2013

In 2013, Vanessa Mdee became a Global Shaper for the World Economic Forum in Dar es Salaam. In October 2013, she joined the GAVI Alliance again at the UN General Assembly. She spoke with the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni. This trip ended with Vanessa ringing the closing bell at NASDAQ. She was honored by Global Health and Diplomacy for her advocacy work.

Vanessa hosted MTV Base's Hunters Oasis, a music festival across Africa. She also hosted Tanzania's Epiq Bongo Star Search Season 7 and Dume Challenge. In November 2013, she released her second single, "Come Over." This song became popular on charts in Tanzania, Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya.

Music, Awards, and Tours in 2014

In 2014, Vanessa Mdee was nominated for three Kilimanjaro Tanzania Music Awards. She won "R&B Song of the Year" for "Closer" on May 3, 2014. She released her third single, Hawajui, on June 13.

Vanessa was part of the 'Switch On' campaign by Airtel. This campaign helped connect people to the internet. At the MTV Africa Music Awards, Vanessa Mdee presented awards. She also interviewed artists like Trey Songz and Miguel.

Vanessa performed in season II of Coke Studio Africa with Nigeria's Burna Boy. She also performed on the Kili Music Tour and the Serengeti Fiesta Music Tour. The Fiesta tour was Tanzania's biggest music tour. Vanessa also became a brand ambassador for Crown Paints in Tanzania. She won the "Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa" award at the AFRIMA Awards in Lagos, Nigeria. On November 8, Vanessa Mdee released the duet Siri with Barnaba Elias. The video for Hawajui premiered on MTV Base on December 8.

More Success in 2015

Mdee performing in 2015

In early 2015, Vanessa Mdee signed a deal to be a brand ambassador for Samsung Tanzania. On March 26, 2015, she released her fifth single, Nobody But Me. She worked with South African rapper K.O on this song. Nobody But Me quickly topped music charts in many African countries.

On April 4, 2015, Vanessa performed at the Gidi Culture Festival in Lagos, Nigeria. This was Africa's biggest beach festival. Vanessa was the only artist from Tanzania to perform there. She shared the stage with top artists like Burna Boy.

Vanessa was nominated for three Kilimanjaro Music Awards. She also joined seven other popular African singers for a ONE.org campaign. This campaign, called "Poverty is Sexist," asked world leaders to focus on girls and women. The song they released promoted this idea globally. On June 23, 2015, Vanessa Mdee won two KTMA Awards: "Female Artist of the Year" and "Best Female Entertainer."

Vanessa was also featured in Essence, a popular US magazine. She talked about Tanzania, her music, and her inspirations.

Festivals and Tours in 2016

Vanessa Mdee performed at the Mombasa Rocks festival in Kenya on October 8, 2016. She was one of the main performers, along with Chris Brown and Wizkid. Vanessa also toured various cities in Tanzania for the Fiesta Tour. She performed live at the One Africa Music Festival in Houston, Texas, on October 22, 2016. She performed alongside many famous African artists like 2Face and P-Square.

Mdee Music Label

In 2018, Vanessa Mdee started her own music label called Mdee Music. Her sister, Mimi Mars, and Brian Simba were part of the label. Brian Simba later left in 2021.

East Africa's Got Talent

In July 2019, Vanessa Mdee became one of the first four judges for the TV show East Africa's Got Talent. The show started airing in August 2019 in Kigali, Rwanda.

Money Mondays Album

Vanessa Mdee released her first album, Money Mondays, on January 15, 2018. The album has eighteen songs, including "Bambino" with Reekado Banks, "Cash Madame," "Bounce," and "Kisela" with Peter from P-Square.

The album also featured guest artists like Cassper Nyovest, Joh Makini, Radio & Weasel, Mohombi, and Konshens. Money Mondays broke many records in East African Music history. It sold 2,000 pre-ordered copies ten days before its official release.

MTV Shuga Appearance

Vanessa Mdee appeared in several episodes of MTV Shuga Down South. She played the character Stormi, a glam madam. Vanessa Mdee is the first and only Tanzanian musician to appear on this TV show.

Personal Life

Vanessa Mdee was in a relationship with Tanzanian music star Juma Jux for six years. They broke up in 2018. In 2019, Vanessa confirmed her relationship with Rotimi, an actor known from the TV series Power. They met at a party and quickly connected. Vanessa said she knew he was her husband just two days after meeting him. They both have tattoos of each other's names and matching tattoos of the number 1045.

In December 2020, Vanessa announced her engagement to Rotimi. They welcomed their first child, a boy, on September 29, 2021. Later, Vanessa confirmed they were expecting another child, a girl.

Vanessa Mdee is also the older sister of Mimi Mars. Mimi Mars is a well-known Tanzanian singer, actress, and TV host. The two sisters are very close.

Music List

Awards and Nominations