Artists

Back in the 1950s and 60s many regions in Zanzibar including the streets of Stone Town had at least one taarab or kidumbak group. Sadly few remain. However, in the village of Mahonda, on the main road north from Zanzibar Town, since 1993 the KIKI Kidumbaki group has been alive read more

Kikundi cha Taarab Kizazi Kipya (KIKI) presents a new sound of orchestral taarab music, combining modern and acoustic instruments. They are from Mahonda district, around 25 miles north of Zanzibar town, and have come under the spotlight since Dhow Countries Music Academy (DCMA Zanzibar) recently opened a branch in Mahonda. read more

The group was formed under the Department of Culture through Zanzibar’s Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports since 1995.

The group comprises many men and women drummers, singers and dancers who maintain, preserve and develop our traditional heritage. They play different kinds of ngoma traditional drumming and dancing from across read more

Mafunzo Ngoma Cultural Group was formed in 1987 by 25 members. The group started by performing dance, choir and drama until late in 1988 when they also started including acrobatics as part of the show.

Registered under Arts Council of Zanzibar (BASAZA), Mafunzo group performs regularly during campaigns and rallies, national read more

Mapanya Band is an energetic, young and talented 'you've-gotta-dance-to-it' group that started in 2015, when all its members were students at Zanzibar’s Dhow Countries Music Academy (DCMA).

The seven musicians who are from Zanzibar and Tanzania play an energetic mix of reggae, soul, r’n’b, hiphop, afro-fusion, Arabic read more

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