Joe Lyimo

Joe Lyimo, born in 1998 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is a versatile musician and composer who lives and works in his home country. In his work, he blends a wide range of musical styles – from hip-hop to classical, jazz, and electronic music – creating energetic and dynamic soundscapes.
Throughout his career, Lyimo has collaborated with numerous artists from both Tanzania and the international music scene. These collaborations have enriched his sound with a diverse array of cultural influences.
He has participated in renowned artist residencies, including the Uvumbuzi Residency Program in Nairobi (2023) and the Sound Residency in Nicaragua (2024). His recent productions include “Nitafanya” (2023) with Nduda and “Sitaki” (2019) in collaboration with NBA Fortune Bello.
Lyimo is also active as a poet: his work “Echoes of Luxuria” was published in the “Queer/Trans Magic Magazine” in 2023. In 2024, he founded “Black Harmony for Health”, a company dedicated to the intersection of art and health.In recognition of his artistic achievements, Lyimo was awarded the Goethe Talent Scholarship in 2023, honoring and supporting his committed engagement with diverse cultural discourses.

During his residency at the MQ, Joe Lyimo is producing a set of tracks incorporating other genres into hip-hop music to create unique sounds and high-energy performances. He would like to try out the intersection points between hip-hop and influences like classic, jazz, electronic, and folk, reflecting the heterogeneity of Vienna's urban space.Lyimo seeks to be inspired by musicians and artists based locally in order to infuse his work with fresh inspiration. His project will highlight the potential for music to bridge cultural divides and to facilitate discussion of pressing social concerns, allowing him to create a dynamic forum for artistic dialogue during his residency at the MQ.