Joseph Haule (Professor Jay)

Joseph Haule was born on December 29, 1975) in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania. During the early years of his career as an artist, he used a stage name; Nigga Jay. Later on his fans, considering the kind of music he is making (conscious Hip-Hop) they decided to call himProfessor Jay, the name he has used since then.

As an artist, Professor Jay, islargely considered by many as one of the true pioneers of what is now known as "Bongo Fleva" which is a genre of music that mixes elements from Western Hip Hop and the Tanzanian tradition. ((Including Swahililyrics as well as an activist attitude towards Tanzanian social issues such as HIV/AIDS, wealth, inequality, and political corruption).

In the span of almost 20 years as a performing artist, Professor Jay, has performed in the following countries; United States Of America (USA), Canada, United Kingdom (UK), Switzerland, The Netherlands (Holland), Sweden, Norway, Germany, Greece, Belgium, India, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya.
Solo albums
·         Machozi Jasho na Damu 2001
·         Mapinduzi Halisi 2003
·         J.O.S.E.P.H 2005
·         Aluta Continua 2008
Awards Won
·         1995- Best Hip Hop Group in Tanzania (With Hard Blasters)
·         2001 Guinness Best Of The Season Awards-Best Hip Hop Artist
·         2002 TANGO Good Governance Awards (Motivation through Song: Ndio Mzee)
·         2002 Kilimanjaro Music Awards- Best Hip Hop Single (Ndio Mzee)
·         2002 Ijumaa Awards-Best Hip Hop Artist
·         2002 Mzumbe University Talent Competition Awards-Best Promoter
·         2003 Kilimanjaro Music Awards- Best Composer
·         2004 Kilimanjaro Music Awards-Best Hip Hop Album (Mapinduzi Halisi)
·         2004 BBC and Radio One Awards-Best Artist Of The Year
·         2004 Tanzania Music Awards (Kilimanjaro Music Awards)- Best Hip Hop Album ("Mapinduzi Halisi")
·         2006 Tanzania Music Awards – Best Song (Nikusaidiaje)
·         2006 Kisima Music Awards – Best Tanzanian Song (Nikusaidiaje)
·         2007 Kisima Music Awards – Best Ugandan Song (Ndivyo Sivyo with Chameleone)
·         2007 Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM Awards) – Best Male Artist (Tanzania)
·         2008 Tanzania Music Awards – Best Songwriter/Composer
·         2012 Bab Kubwa Magazine- Best Male Hip Hop Artist Of The Year.
Nominated
·         2008 MTV Africa Music Awards – Best Hip Hop Male Artist
·         2008 Pearl Of Africa Music Awards (PAM Awards)- Best Male Artist
·         2008 Kilimanjaro Music Awards- Best Hip Hop Single (Hapo Vipi), Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Best Song Writer, Song Of The Year.
·         2012 Kisima Music Awards- Best East African Artist.
Ambassadorial Positions
Since 2009 until now, Professor Jay, has been an Official Ambassador for an International campaign to eradicate Malaria (disease) known as "Malaria No More" with its headquarters in New York City, United States Of America (USA).
Current Projects
Currently, Professor Jay is getting ready to release his fifth studio album titled Jaysco Dagama. Some singles from the album have already been released. These include songs such as Kama Ipo (released May 2011), KamiliGado (released December 2011) and Hellow (released August 2011)

Professor Jay is also a Founder & Chairman of Professor Jay Foundation (PJF) a foundation aiming at working with members of communities across Tanzania to tackle some of the daily challenges of their lives such as Poverty and Diseases. Currently, he is involved, through his foundation, with a campaign called Nishike Mkono, which is working with members of communities, from yard to yard in assisting to tackle challenges in Health and Education sectors.