Artists

Under the direction of Zakaria Ibrahim, "El Tanbura" was established in 1989. Based in Port Said, at the entrance to the Suez Canal, the troupe is ideally placed to influence positively the status of popular art and its performers in its home area. Although only seven participate in this festival, read more

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

Kirumbizi is a unique kind of stick dance and one of the earliest traditional types of ngoma from Pemba island, a tradition which has been handed down from generation to generation over centuries. According to Mzee Omar Khamisi, leader of Hiyari ya Moyowo group, kirumbizi has similar origins to the read more

Imani Dancing Troupe aims include reviving and developing some of the many ngoma and dance styles from Zanzibar and Tanzania, and to promote them at an international level. As well as using ngoma (drums) in most of their performances, they also use other local instruments, including zumari (horn), violin, trumpet read more

Based in Kigali, Imena is a cultural association that has been performing Rwandan music, dance and culture for twenty years. Their show is spectacular and varied, ranging from powerful drumming to graceful dance, modern and expansive but firmly rooted in Rwandan traditions.

Imena’s main focus is youth, especially orphans read more

Consisting of nine artists, Jagwa Music are the leading exponents of the Mchiriku style, which originated 20 years ago in the poor suburbs of Dar es Salaam; when cheap Casio keyboards first became available.

Jagwa Music and their peers were immediately attracted by the Casio’s lo-fi sound, adopted read more