Artists

The teachers and students of the Dhow Countries Music Academy (DCMA) come from different traditional music groups and represent the finest musicians Zanzibar has to offer. Within the context of the school the teachers have gathered to form a new and unique group: Baladna Taarab. This ensemble specializes in instrumental read more

Bi Kidude bint Baraka is Zanzibar's most famous cultural ambassador and East Africa's legendary barefoot diva of taarab and unyago traditional music.

Bi Kidude's exact date of birth is unknown, much of her life story is uncorroborated, giving her an almost mythical status. Kidude started out her musical career read more

Originating from Pemba Island, Brain Boy’s sound is inspired by traditional Taarab musicians like Makame Faki and Mohammed Isa Matona. In hearing his natural deep voice, he has been nick-named ‘Makame Faki Jr’ - the King of Kidumbaki.

Brain Boy creates a fusion of traditional Taarab and Kidumbaki with a new read more

Carrying the spirit of his island, Chébli Msaïdie weaves a vivid soundtrack tapestry through his music of life as he sees it; as a child of ethnic diversity, of time spent away from his homeland and of the multicultural encounters in between.

Born in the Comoros, Chébli first learned to read more

In 2007 former solo artist Karume Shaabani, also known as Father K, joined together with keyboardist Ali Said to create Cross Border. From 2009 onwards the band of nine has been performing a huge mix of well loved rhythms from the Tanzanian coastal region, such as msondo, read more

[[[The Dhow Countries Music Academy is Zanzibar's first music school and the only of its kind in East Africa. Focusing on teaching traditional music DCMA has about 100 active students from all levels, amateurs to professional musicians, visiting the academy almost daily to practice. But DCMA also reaches out bringing read more