Artists

Founded in 1995 by two of Zanzibar's leading comedians, Shabaani Muasi Vuai ( Sekembuke) and Juma Haji Usi ( Halikuniki ) a move which was prompted by Tanzania's general election. They were initially engaged for a campaign to educate people about voting rights on both the main islands of Zanzibar read more

Sanaa Taarab was born in 1983, after the then Zanzibar Ballet group stopped its activities. In its early years the group managed to perform by borrowing equipment from Culture Musical Club, with whom they have a long and positive relationship. Currently the group has twenty artists who are employed by read more

Jambo Brothers was formed in 1999 by two Zanzibar acrobats Saidi and Khamis at Kiembe Samaki area. Later the same year three more members joined the group and they became the Golden Stars Acrobatic Show. Performing mainly in bars, schools, political rallies and other social occasions the group was struggling read more

With 10 female and 13 male artists, Kariakoo Sanaa developed out of what used to be the Zanzibar National Ballet Group in 1979. Due to cultural exchange programmes between Zanzibar and Guinea Conakry, the latter sent tutors to help establish the group. Performing a variety of traditional ngoma from around read more

Wahapahapa Band is a group of six musicians from Tanzania looking to boldly take their distinct sound to the rest of the world and offer a taste of the richness of the language and the life experience of the Swahili people.

Wahapahapa means ‘originates from here’ in Swahili.  Their read more

Olith Ratego was born in Asere Ugenya, Siaya District, Kenya. His interest in music was awakened by his mother, who was a singer of "dodo", a traditional style of Luo music. On occasion, she used to perform for dignitaries, even including the then president of Kenya, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.

As a read more