Artists

During 2005 two young and talented Tanzanian artists Mussa Ramadhan and Juma Ally came up with the idea of forming a traditional dance group as a means of creating self employment. They brought together a group of five men and three women. Playing a variety of ngoma styles mostly from read more

Music lovers everywhere are mourning the loss of legendary musician Makame Faki Makame, who died in Zanzibar, on January 18, 2020, at the age of 77.

Makame Faki needs no introduction, being one of Culture Musical Club's most revered singer-songwriters of Zanzibari taarab music. With his own read more

Rooted in a mystic Island in the Indian Ocean, carrying influences from ancient Arab, Turkish, Indian, and African musical traditions whilst fusing them with contemporary music from Jazz to Funk to Reggae and beyond, Siti & The Band are the rising stars from the East African region presenting a virtuous read more

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

More famously known for the annual colourful Mwaka Kogwa (Shirazi New Year) cultural celebrations, the small fishing town of Makunduchi on the south-eastern tip of Zanzibar is also home to Kiongoni School, where young talent is overflowing. Placing a priority on fostering cultural pride from a young age, the school read more

Stone Town Rockerz features band members from various parts of Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar, who met and joined at the Dhow Countries Music Academy. With their diverse cultural influences, this makes their music unique as they also combine local rhythms with afrobeat and Latino and western styles such as rock, read more