Malaika Gray releases debut single ‘My Fever’ with Marioo

Singer-songwriter Malaika Gray has stepped into the music scene with her first single, “My Fever”, which features Tanzanian Bongo Flava star Marioo. According to IOL, the song is a love track that draws on both her Tanzanian heritage and her upbringing in South Africa.

A song built around a feeling

Gray wrote and recorded the song in Tanzania. She worked on it in Dar es Salaam with producer Abbah Process, and Marioo came on board during the writing stage. She told IOL the track grew out of a feeling rather than a particular story, and that she wanted it to reflect the relaxed warmth of the city. In her words, she was aiming for something “warm, unhurried, a bit of ocean in it”.

The lyrics move between English and Kiswahili, both of which Gray says come naturally to her when she writes.

Marioo as a co-writer

Gray says she has admired Marioo for years, so having him on her first release means a great deal to her. What impressed her most, she explained, was how involved he became. Instead of simply adding a guest verse, he helped shape the lyrics and the melody. “He wrote it with me,” she said.

She also valued that he agreed to work with an artist who had nothing released yet. According to Gray, he heard the song before she had any public music or profile and told her they should go ahead with it.

A video shot on the streets of Dar es Salaam

The music video was directed by Joma and shot in just two days around Dar es Salaam. It shows streets, markets, salons and everyday transport, along with the Indian Ocean, the city’s daladalas (minibus taxis) and warm afternoon light.

Gray said she never imagined the song without a video, because the record is as much about a place as a feeling. She wanted the city shown honestly, without sets, an imported crew or stereotypical African imagery. “The city is not a backdrop in that video,” she said.

Johannesburg roots and local plans

Gray blends Afrobeats and Bongo Flava, with R&B running through her vocals and songwriting. She grew up on R&B in Johannesburg, which she says shapes her voice whether she intends it to or not, while Bongo Flava is the sound she feels most deeply from Tanzania.

She now has her sights on working with South African artists. “South Africa is home for me too,” she said, adding that she expects to collaborate locally and wants to do so soon.

What it means for South African listeners

For local fans of Afrobeats and R&B, Gray is a new name with a clear link to Johannesburg. Her stated interest in working with South African musicians suggests future releases could cross over with the local scene, though no specific collaborations have been announced.

This story is based on reporting by IOL.