Artists

Karyna Gomes is a singer and songwriter who started at the age of 21 by singing gospel music in 1997 in São Paulo, Brazil, while she studied journalism.

Her passion for music came earlier as she grew up surrounded by musicians in Guinea-Bissau, listening to traditional and urban read more

Rashid Amin Abdallah aka Rico Single was born in Kikuu village, on Pemba island. He started music at primary school, as part of the school’s traditional dance group.

In 2001 together with friends, Rico Single created Swahili Arts Group which had more than 40 young members, performing traditional dances, read more

It’s been a decade since the Johannesburg-based group Tumi & The Volume went about making a band, transitioning from spoken-word experimentalists to the unique live hiphop outfit they are now internationally famed for. In as far as style and accomplishment is concerned they stand alone in South Africa, and read more

Almost a century ago, Zanzibari singer Siti Binti Saad reimagined what had been formal court music into a private form of improvisation, laced with a spirit of inclusivity that combined Arabic and Swahili lyrics. In doing so, she paved the way for other female taarab singers, including Bi Kidude.

In turn, read more

The popular Dar es Salaam based music group was officially established in 2006 with three members from Dodoma and three members from the coastal region. A few years later, they expanded to become an ensemble of 13 members all of whom are part of the group until today. The read more

Rooted in a mystic Island in the Indian Ocean, carrying influences from ancient Arab, Turkish, Indian, and African musical traditions whilst fusing them with contemporary music from Jazz to Funk to Reggae and beyond, Siti & The Band are the rising stars from the East African region presenting a virtuous read more