Vanessa Mdee A.K.A Vee Money is a Tanzanian recording artist, songwriter, youth activist, TV and Radio host.. Vanessa, made her debut appearance onto Africa’s entertainment stage in 2007, when she won the MTV Base video Jockey (VJ) search at the age of 19, becoming the first ever Tanzanian MTV VJ.
By 2008, Mdee had established herself in Tanzania and around the continent hosting shows in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Angola, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. She also became known in United States and Brazil before signing to B’Hits Music Group in late 2012.
MS Mdee is very active in promoting key issues affecting the youth in Tanzania and Africa.In 2008, she worked with the Staying Alive Foundation, where she remained engaged with youth groups in promoting positive change through music, dance and skits. As a UNAIDS Youth Ambassador, she is highly involved in raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and writes extensively about these issues on her blog “Dynamite’s Mission.”
Her first solo single “Closer” remained on the charts for over 13 weeks, downloaded over 30,000 times; a feat achieved by no other Tanzanian artist. In July 2018, she was signed to Universal Music Group.
Career
2019
Pioneer judges for the debut season of East Africa’s Got Talent.
2018
Released her debut album “Money Mondays”, featuring prominent artists, like Rekkado Banks, Cash Madame, MR. P of PSquare, etc.
MTV Shuga – appeared on several episodes as “Stormi”, the glam mada
2016
Performed at the Mobasa Rocks, One Africa Music Festival, Fiesta Tour where she gave electrifying performances.
2015
Became a brand ambassador for Samsung in Tanzania.
Released her 5th single “Nobody But Me” in collaboration with South African rapper K.O.
Performed at the Gidi Culture Festival in Lagos, which is known as Africa’s biggest beach festival, the only artist representing Tanzania at the Festival.
Won two Kilimnajro Tanzania Music Awards for female Artist of the Year and Best Female Entertainer.
Nominated for The Future Awards Africa prize in Entertainment.
Won the African Entertainment Awards (CANADA) as the Best International Female Artist Africa.
2014
Involved in “Switch On” campaign by Airtel.
Features in Season Two of Coke Studio, where she collaborates and performs with Nigeria’s Burna Boy.
Nominated for two categories as Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa and Best African RNB Soul or the AFRIMA Awards.
2013
Joined the GAVI Alliance at the UN General Assembly.
Hosted the MTV Base’s Hunters Oasis.
Part of the Global Shaper in the Dar es Salaam hub of the World Economic Forum.
In June 2020, she announced that she quit music in a podcast and had this to say to her fans:
“I don’t know who needs to hear this but my mission is to be a light. I know that I will probably disappoint a few people and that’s okay, I know that my fans don’t wanna hear this, but guess what? I am never gonna be too far away from you, trust me. The reason why I had to leave the industry is because I needed to choose my life, the music industry is demonic. People will tell you half-truths about what really goes on, and the truth is I just wanna be an advocate for honesty and beauty and being a sincere advocate for what facing your demons can do for you.
“Now my fans are probably asking themselves right now; Are you gonna never sing again? Are we gonna never see you perform? Let me reiterate, I love music, I love to create, I love to perform, I’m a vessel, this is what I was brought on earth to be, but maybe I was a vessel to be here in this moment to have gone through everything that I have gone through so that I can tell you most honestly the truth about things you will never hear somewhere else,”
Vanessa is the future!
