Following Her Headies Nomination, Abigail Chams Talks About “Yoyo,” East African Music and Going Global

For Abigail Chams, music has always been a way of carrying where she comes from with her. Growing up in Tanzania, surrounded by Bongo Flava, traditional East African sounds and music from across the continent, she developed an approach that is rooted in East Africa but open to the broader world. Her multilingual songwriting and background as a multi-instrumentalist have since become important parts of that identity.

That identity is now reaching bigger audiences, from international stages to a Best East African Act nomination at The Headies. In the next phase of her career, Chams is exploring new sides of her sound and herself, while remaining intentional about keeping her Tanzanian roots at the centre of her music. 

In this conversation with TurnTable, she reflects on the experiences behind her artistry, her sounds, growing international profile, and what she hopes to build next.

 

 

TTC: For listeners who may be discovering you for the first time, what kind of music does Abigail Chams make? What experiences growing up in Tanzania have contributed to the artiste you’ve become?

 

Abigail Chams: I’d describe my music as Afropop and Afro-R&B, with a lot of East African influence at the heart of it. Growing up in Tanzania exposed me to so many different sounds, from Bongo Flava and traditional East African music to Pop, R&B, gospel and music from across the continent. I also grew up playing different instruments, the piano, violin, guitar, drums and flute, so musicianship has always been a huge part of who I am. Music was my escapism while growing up. When I had a bad day or a stressful exam, I made songs to help me remember certain topics or played my piano to calm down, so it has also always been my way of expressing myself. I think all of that has made me an artiste who loves experimenting and writing “stories” rather than just songs while still making sure you can hear where I come from. 

TTC: You make music in English, Swahili, and French languages. What does being able to express yourself across these languages allow you to do more creatively than with just one?

Abigail Chams: Every language has its own rhythm and emotion. There are things I can say in Swahili that just hit differently than they would in English, and French brings another kind of softness and melody. Being able to move between the three gives me more freedom creatively, but it also allows my music to connect with people across East Africa, Francophone Africa and beyond without losing my identity.

TTC: You’ve had a pretty international run recently, from the VISA partnership to performing at Africa Forward with Youssou Ndour and the BAL Finals in Kigali. Which of these experiences has contributed to your performances, and what did you learn from being on those stages?

Abigail Chams: Honestly, all of them have shaped me in different ways. Performing alongside someone as legendary as Youssou N’Dour reminded me of the longevity and excellence I want to build towards, while stages like the BAL Finals challenged me to think bigger about performance, choreography and connecting with an international crowd. Every stage teaches me something new, but mostly they’ve taught me to trust that what we’re creating in East Africa belongs on the biggest stages in the world.

TTC: You were recently nominated for Best East African Act at The Headies. What does that recognition mean to you, particularly as an artiste representing Tanzania on a platform with such a strong Nigerian and African music audience?

Abigail Chams: It means a lot to me, especially being the only woman nominated in my category. Nigeria has played such a huge role in taking African music global, so to be recognised on a platform like The Headies as an artiste from Tanzania is special. I see it as bigger than myself. It’s another opportunity to put Tanzania and East African music in front of a wider African and global audience.

TTC: “Yoyo” is built around love, but it feels playful rather than overly sentimental. Where did the inspiration for the song come from, and what story were you hoping to tell?

Abigail Chams: “Yoyo” is about that exciting, playful side of love. You know when you meet someone who matches your energy and everything just feels fun and effortless. I didn’t want to overcomplicate the story. I wanted the song to feel like a celebration, attraction, dancing and being completely present in that moment with someone. It’s basically love without the stress. 

TTC: “Me Too” was released in 2025 and became quite popular. Should we be expecting a debut EP or album from you soon? If yes, what other themes are you hoping to explore? 

Abigail Chams: Definitely. I’ve been working on a body of work, and I’m really excited for people to hear this next chapter of Abigail Chams. I want it to show more sides of me — love, confidence, heartbreak, freedom, femininity and just being young and figuring life out. Sonically, I’m also exploring more of East Africa while still playing with sounds from across the continent and the music I grew up loving.

TTC: As you gain popularity, how has that affected how you think about your music and the audiences you want to reach?

Abigail Chams: It’s made me think bigger, but I never want “bigger” to mean losing myself. I want a person in Lagos, Paris, London or New York to connect with my music, but I also want someone back home in Tanzania to hear it and immediately know that I’m one of them. The goal is to make music that can travel without removing the things that make me uniquely East African.

TTC: There’s clearly an interest in taking African music beyond individual home markets, and you’re already doing that in your own way. Which artistes, sounds or parts of the African music scene are you most excited about connecting with next?

Abigail Chams: I’m really excited by what’s happening across the continent because African music isn’t just one sound. I’ve enjoyed exploring by taking Bongo Flava and blending it with Afrobeats, R&B, Amapiano and even Congolese sounds. I think there’s so much we haven’t explored yet.

TTC: When you look at where Abigail Chams is now compared with where you were a few years ago, what part of the journey are you most proud of, and what else are you hoping to achieve?

Abigail Chams: I’m most proud that the dreams I had as a young girl in Tanzania are slowly becoming real, without me having to become somebody else to achieve them. From playing instruments and making youtube covers at home to representing Tanzania on stages across Africa and internationally, every step reminds me how far I’ve come.

But I also want my journey to stand for something beyond music. Through my mental health initiative, “The Talk”, and my work with UNICEF advocating for mental health and gender equality, I’ve realised how powerful our voices can be in shaping the communities around us. As a young African woman, I want to use the platform I’m building not only to entertain, but to create conversations, opportunities and real change for young people.

I want to build a global career, create bodies of work that live beyond me, perform on the biggest stages in the world, open more doors for East African artistes, and build a legacy that is just as much about impact as it is about music.