{{short description|Tanzanian musician (born 1980)}} {{BLP sources|date=November 2015}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Dully Sykes | image = Dully Sykes.jpg | image_size = | landscape = | alt = | caption = Dully Sykes | birth_name = Abdul Sykes | native_name = | native_name_lang = | alias = Mr. Misifa | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1980|12|4}} | birth_place = Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | origin = Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania | death_date = | death_place = | genre = {{hlist|Bongo Flava | Afropop}} | occupation = {{flatlist| *Singer *record producer }} | instrument = Vocals | years_active = 1999–present | label = {{hlist|Dhahabu Records | 41 Records}} | associated_acts = {{flatlist| *Diamond Platnumz *Ommy Dimpoz *Joslin *Nash Y *Professor Jay *Ngwair *Ali Kiba *Sat-B }} | website = }} '''Dully Sykes''' (born '''Abdul Sykes''' on 4 December 1980)<ref>[http://www.facebook.com/allan.tha.triad#!/profile.php?id=1557396041 Dully Sykes born 4 December 1980 – his facebook profile]</ref> is a Tanzanian Bongo Flava musician, songwriter, record producer and composer.
== Biography == Also known as Mr Misifa or Mr Chicks, Dully Sykes is a bongo flava artist from Tanzania, the grandson of Abdulwahid Sykes. He has performed in the UK<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/africabeyond/africaonyourstreet/hosts/jjc/18570.shtml|title=BBC - Africa Beyond|work=bbc.co.uk}}{{dead link|date=September 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and he is one of the pioneers of Swahili dancehall in the African Great Lakes region, and is widely known for hits like "Julieta", "Salome", "Historia ya Kweli" and "Leah". Some of his songs are based on true stories. After the first album, ''Historia ya kweli'' released in 2003, people started calling his music ''mwanasesele'', Swahili for a high squeaky noise. With the song "Handsome" and an album by the same name, he became one of the biggest names in young urban music in Tanzania. He has produced music at his Dar es Salaam record label called Dhahabu Records, and continues to write songs. He has provided "hooks" to many artists including Man X's "[https://yingamedia.com/bongo/man-x-ft-dully-sykes-nimechezea-bahati/ Nimechezea Bahati]" and P-Funk's "Please Forgive Me". One of his tracks, "Handsome", is on the African Rebel Music ''Roots reggae and dancehall'' CD compiled by the international record label, Out Here Records. Dully Sykes is renowned for his relevance and long stay on the game as most of his era-mate artists have already laid low. He is one of the founding fathers of Bongo flava. Dully Sykes has a high reputation of bringing to the game some of the big names in the industry including Marioo, Shetta and the late Pancho latino. In 2022, he featured Tanzanian singer, Kusah in his smash hit Do Do.<ref>{{Cite web |last=djmwanga |date=2022-12-01 |title=AUDIO {{!}} Dully Sykes Ft Kusah - Do Do {{!}} Download |url=https://djmwanga.com/2022/12/dully-sykes-ft-kusah-do-do.html |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=DJ Mwanga |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Nyambizi and controversy == Sykes has also attracted criticism for his lyrical content and the images in his videos. His most controversial song is "Nyambiz", a tale of his sexual experience with a "''nyambizi''", slang for a large voluptuous woman. Released as a single in 2001, the song was attacked by various organisations for its lewd lyrics.<ref name =Lemelle>Lemelle, Sidney J. "'Ni wapi Tunakwenda': Hip Hop Culture and the Children of Arusha" in ''The Vinyl Ain't Final: Hip Hop and the Globalization of Black Popular Culture'', ed. Dipannita Basu and Sidney J. Lemelle, 230-54. London; Ann Arbor, MI: Pluto Press</ref> In response to public outlash, radio stations refused to play the song, but it nevertheless continued to be requested by radio listeners.<ref name =Lemelle/> Sykes' music videos have also attracted criticism.
== Discography == *''Historia ya Kweli'' (2003) *''Handsome'' (2004) *''Hunifahamu'' (2005)
== Compilations == *''Bongo Hottest Flavas: Volume 1'' *''Ndani ya Bongo: Volume 1'' *''Kwa Fujo Deejayz: Volume 1'' *''Kwa Fujo Deejayz: Ladha Zaidi'' *''Kwa Fujo Deejayz: Mlipuko wa Bongo Cuts'' *''Gede Records: Pasua Kichwa'' *''Bongo Halisi'' (2004) *''G-Project: Bongo Project Volume 1'' (2005) *''Fungua Mwaka 2005'' (2005) *''Pamoja Ndani Ya Game'' (2006) *''African Rebel Music: "Roots, Reggae and Dancehall"'' (2006)
== Awards == === Won === *2011 Tanzania Music Awards – Best Video and Best Ragga/Dancehall Song ("Action" with CPWAA, Ms. Triniti & Mangwair)<ref>allAfrica.com: [http://allafrica.com/stories/201103281745.html "20 Percent" Bags Five Tanzania Music Awards]</ref><ref>allAfrica.com: [http://allafrica.com/stories/201104010071.html Kili Night of Fun, Awards And Much More]</ref> *2012 Tanzania Music Awards – Best Ragga/Dancehall Song ("Maneno Maneno" with Queen Darleen)
=== Nominations === *2004 Tanzania Music Awards – Best Hip Hop Album (''Handsome'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kilitimetz.com/nominees.html |title=Tanzania Music Awards – Nominees 2004 |date=4 December 2004 |work=archive.org |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041204003548/http://www.kilitimetz.com/nominees.html |archive-date=4 December 2004 }}</ref> *2007 Tanzania Music Awards – Best collaboration ("Dhahabu" with Joslin and Mr. Blue)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kilitimetz.com/awards/2007/nominees_2007.html|title=Tanzania Music Awards – 2007 Nominees|work=kilitimetz.com|access-date=8 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713150404/http://www.kilitimetz.com/awards/2007/nominees_2007.html|archive-date=13 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> *2008 Tanzania Music Awards – Best Reggae/Ragga Song ("Baby Candy")<ref>Freemedia.co.tz: [http://www.freemedia.co.tz/daima/2008/6/30/makala4.php Kili Music Awards 2007 yafana, wengi wakubali matokeo]</ref> *2010 Tanzania music awards – Best Ragga/Dancehall Song ("Shikide") *2012 Tanzania Music Awards – Best Male Artist, Best Video ("Bongo flava"), Best Afro Pop Song ("Bongo flava")<ref>allAfrica.com: [http://allafrica.com/stories/201202091175.html Diamond Lands Seven Kili Music Awards Nominations] 9 February 2012</ref><ref>Bongo5.com: [http://www.bongo5.com/kili-awards-2012-nominees-hawa-hapa-02-2012/ Kili awards 2012 Nominees hawa hapa!] 8 February 2012</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.myspace.com/dullysykes Dully Sykes] at MySpace
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sykes, Dully}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:Tanzanian rappers Category:Tanzanian musicians Category:Swahili-language Tanzanian singers Category:21st-century Tanzanian male singers Category:Tanzanian Bongo Flava musicians Category:Tanzanian producers Category:Tanzanian record producers Category:Tanzanian composers