Artists

Mohammed Issa Matona was born in 1969 in Paje, Zanzibar about 45 miles from Stone Town.

He received his primary and secondary education in Zanzibar and Morogoro but spent most of his time in making music from early age. He participated in football and athletics, but his favourite early hobby was read more

Matona's Cultural Band is comprised of musicians from Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania. Mohamed Issa Haji 'Matona' is one of Zanzibar's most legendary musicians. He is a teacher at the Dhow Countries Music Academy and has been performing music for over 40 years. 

 For the past two years Matona read more

The G Clef Taarab Orchestra performs regularly in the bars, dance halls, clubs and at weddings. In a drive to revive the variety of musical genres from the dhow countries region,  it demonstrates its musical versatility through genres such as modern taarab, mgodro, salege, chakacha, sega and mbiwi.

The read more

Seif Shaban popularly known as Matonya has been a household name in the Bongo Flava arena during the whole of 2006. His hit single Vailet wound up the year as the most played song in Tanzania.

Originally from Tanga region, Matonya is a second child in the family of four. He read more

Maulidi Juma started singing in the 1960s and formed his original Mombasa Musical Party in 1972. The group has released more than 40 Recordings and continues to be one of the most popular groups of Kenyan coastal taarab. Their music exemplifies the Mombasa sound which shows the influence of Indian read more

Welcome to one of the world's best kept secrets. The Maulidi ya Homu from Mtendeni, Zanzibar is a visually spectacular and spiritually uplifting experience. In the 21st Century only three groups remain in the world still practicing this religious art form, all based in Zanzibar. 

 Maulidi ya Homu read more