Artists

Founded in 1905, Nadi Ikhwan Safaa can probably trace its roots back further than any other orchestra in Africa.

At first, the group played Egyptian and Arabic music. In the early 1950s, they started composing their own songs with Swahili lyrics. Since then, Ikhwan Safaa - or ‘Malindi Taarab’, as they read more

Kikundi cha Taifa (National Taarab Orchestra) of Zanzibar was founded many years ago, having a flexible set up but always featuring the cream of the crop of taarab musicians from the Islands.

 

The group is presently under the artistic direction of two of Zanzibar's taarab maestros, Mr Iddi Suwedi of Culture read more

Born in Mombasa Kenya, Mwanaisha Abdallah aka Nyota Ndogo has been building an enthusiastic local and international fan base for her eclectic East African sound for the past decade. A powerful singer-songwriter and charismatic performer, she has a distinctly coastal yet modern and unique sound that deserves worldwide attention.

Nyota's father read more

From Tanga, on the Indian Ocean coastline, Patricia Hillary is among Tanzania’s taarab icons. She is also a singer-songwriter, actress, business woman and retired sergeant from JKT (Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa).  She began her music journey through the famous traditional dances of mdumange. She started shining in the taarab scene in read more

Nassor Amour Abdallah aka Cholo Ganun the founder of Rahat Zamaan Taarab Orchestra is renowned for his exceptional talent; he is the youngest professional ganun player in East Africa. In Sweden during 2003, Cholo Ganun won Best World Musician Award; of a hundred contestants, he was one of only read more

Taarab music has defined Zanzibar's aural landscape for over a century, renowned for its lush mix of Arabic and western instruments, diva-worthy vocalizations, and allusive Swahili lyrics. The venerable and syncretic form is ambitiously renewed by Rajab Suleiman & Kithara. This lean and nimble group has uncovered the form's read more