The Diary: Ladi6 heads on African journey

Ladi6's return to Tanzania was filmed for a documentary.

Ladi 6 returns to East Africa to fulfil a lifelong dream.

She lived in Tanzania as a teenager with her parents, volunteers at a centre for street children, and developed a love for making music. Sixteen years later, Ladi6 returned to East Africa with her partner and son to fulfil a lifelong dream.

Her trip was documented by her cousin, actor and filmmaker Oscar Kightley. They returned to New Zealand last week.

Born and raised in Christchurch, Ladi6 (whose given name is Karoline Tamati) moved to Africa as a 15-year-old with her sister Bonni, dad Vic and mum Losa.

Africa, she says, was where she first started to write and play music, and she was desperate to return to show her own family, partner Parks (aka Brent Park) and their 10-year-old son Philly.

A long-standing relationship with energy drink company Red Bull sparked an idea to make it a reality, and film it as a documentary.

"I was granted a wish by Red Bull to take my partner and son back to all the places that helped plant the seed in this little girl's life that grew to become an enduring love for writing, performing and making music," she said on Facebook.

That period in Tanzania, around 18 months, saw her parents work for Volunteer Service Abroad and help run a residential centre for street children in Maji ya Chai, and a drop-in centre for street children in Arusha.

Her father taught her to play Hotel California on the guitar and she would listen to cassettes of Bob Marley, Dolly Parton and Celine Dion, among others.

"I slowly started to discover something different in music. I felt an empathy in music that I still crave to this day, something that resonated with me at that time being so far away from home.

"I was inspired to write my first song on guitar in my parents' bedroom in Makumira,Tanzania."

Returning to Tanzania brought huge emotions for the recording artist, a friend said.

"The doco will be amazing. It's Ladi6's private journey, through her eyes."