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Itar\u00e9<\/span><\/a> had just wrapped a round of exams for his cybersecurity program at university when he released his first EP in late November of 2025. One moment, the Tanzanian musician was grinding through end-of-term assessments. The next, reviewing promo materials and finalizing the mixing and mastering of his debut: the self-titled Itar\u00e9<\/span>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s a challenge,\u201d he tells OkayAfrica<\/span>. \u201cBut I’m managing it pretty well because it’s important that I get my education.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That balance between creativity and practicality feels essential for where he\u2019s headed. With Tanzania\u2019s musical mainstream shaped by the same heavyweight acts for decades, there\u2019s growing momentum behind a new generation eager to define what comes next. Alongside Gen Z artists like Abigail Chams<\/span><\/a>, Hevi<\/span>, and Kontawa<\/span>, Itar\u00e9 is striving to build his name. What sets him apart is a sonic diversity that has been shaped by years of experiment\u2026and it\u2019s getting recognition.<\/p>\n Last year, Apple Music named him one of their \u201cUp Next\u201d<\/a> East Africa artists. His track \u201cWhere You Want,<\/a>\u201d featuring South Africa\u2019s Kane Keid<\/span> and Tanzania\u2019s Joh Makini<\/span>, made OkayAfrica<\/span>\u2019s Best East African Songs of 2025<\/a>, and he was named one of our artists to watch in 2026.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Indeed, his new EP is the clearest sign yet of where he\u2019s headed.<\/p>\n \n