Artists

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

Launched at Zanzibar’s Dhow Countries Music Academy (DCMA) in 2014 and comprising of DCMA teachers and students, the Taarab - Kidumbak Group was formed to participate in a competition to tour in America. Since then, they participated in three highly acclaimed tours in the summer of 2015. The first read more

Tarabband is a six-member group founded in 2008 by Nadin Al Khalidi (Iraq/Egypt) and Gabriel Hermansson (Sweden). A cross-cultural musical experience resonating tarab; the universal feeling when emotions and music become one.

Tarabband’s music takes off from Malmö, travels via Paris and the Mediterranean to Cairo and Baghdad creating the band’s read more

Tausi Women’s Taarab presents a revolution in a very traditional genre: Zanzibar’s first all-female taarab orchestra where all the instruments are played by women and accompanied by women singers.

The Tausi Taarab orchestra was formed in 2009 and presents music in the tradition of classical taarab style. Dating back read more

This young, creative and hard-working band was established in 2019, with the aim to create, develop, promote and cherish the artistic and musical ideas of its members.

Waungwana Band see strength in unity. All in the group are super committed and proud to work as a team in sharing and creating read more

The Zanzibar Taarab Ensemble captures the great energy of western Indian Ocean cultural expression and has a program of great variety, easily appreciated by any audience interested in hearing instrumental and vocal colours, tonalities and techniques of the fusion of Arab and African music.

The high quality of read more