Artists

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

Zanzibar’s Dhow Countries Music Academy welcomes children from different schools across the island and unites them with musicians and teachers from DCMA. 

DCMA Young Stars was established in 2013, with its main aims to create, develop, cherish and promote the unique music ideas of kids, teens and young adults.