A.Y. (musician)

A.Y.
Background information
Birth name	Ambwene Allen Yessayah
Born	(1982-07-05) July 5, 1982 (age 42) Mtwara, Tanzania
Origin	Mtwara Region
Genres	Bongo Flava, Tanzanian hip hop
Years active	1996-present
Member of	S.O.G
Formerly of	East Coast Army East Coast Team

Ambwene Allen Yessayah (born 5 July 1982), better known by his stage name A.Y., is a Tanzanian bongo flava artist of Makonde heritage. He was born in Mtwara, Mtwara Region, Tanzania. He began his career with the group S.O.G. in 1996. He decided to go solo in 2002. A.Y. is among the first bongo flava artists to commercialize hip hop. He was member of the musical group known as East Coast Army, but now he is no longer part of the group. He is still releasing songs and albums collaborating mostly with a former East Coast Army artist Mwana Fa.^[1]

A.Y is termed as the first Tanzania musician to start up business and merge music and business and inspire other artist to follow the path.