Artists

The Planets is a cultural group that was started in 1990 to encourage preservation of Uganda's cultural heritage. The group has trained its members in various Ugandan traditional dances. The Planets is one of the leading traditional dance groups in Uganda, performing regularly in national festivities, campaign events as well 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

Black Roots Cultural Group has been immersed in the islands' arts scene for many years. Apart from their regular drama plays broadcast on TV Zanzibar, the group is reinterpreting local traditional dances. The potent messages they convey through their music and drama reach all levels of society read more

Chema Culture Group was born in Pemba Island in 1992. At the time Chema group had 45 founder members who came from various small Ngoma groups from around the island. The idea of forming Chema came because the artists needed a well established group, as well as to be registered read more

Founded in 1958, Culture Musical Club is Zanzibar's most prolific and successful taarab orchestra. The club performs widely at concerts in Zanzibar town, but also frequently travels overland with a fold-up stage and an electricity generator to bring its music to the rural areas. They have released hundreds of songs read more

The "Dhow Crossing" CD is a result of a three-year collaboration between students and teachers of Dhow Countries Music Academy (DCMA Zanzibar) and Agder University College (Norway). The musical crossover project was part of a NORAD funded programme. Recordings and concerts evolved through exchange visits between both institutions and countries. read more