Artists

This exciting experimental collaboration, only recently established in 2011, is one of its kind, lead by talented Zanzibari musician and composer Juma Begu. The tandaa is a traditional flute, similar to the zumari. It is typically played alongside ngoma drums in the island’s umundi dance, used to purge evil read more

TaraJazz, Zanzibar. This exciting young band of musical explorers is on a mission, improvising, sharing and responding to new sounds. At the group’s core is jazz, real, live and uncompromising. This is a unique blend that brings elements of Zanzibari taarab with its Arabic, African and Eastern influences and rhythmical read more

Tarbia group was founded in Zanzibar in 1985. They are based at a local madrasa where they practice qasida (Islamic praise music) using dufu (hand-held frame drum) and other drums. They are highly respected among the island's Muslim community for their singing and melodies. The group performs at religious as 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

Christopher ‘Tofa Boy’ Antony is a young and talented student from Dhow Countries Music Academy (DCMA) Zanzibar. Presenting an energetic cocktail of African popular music styles including bongo flava and Afro-fusion, Tofa Boy is a vibrant and upbeat artist. He composes his own songs and delivers these with passion, from read more

Utamaduni is Swahili for “culture” and the group Utamaduni JKU presents Swahili culture at its best. They are performing a rich variety of traditional dances from all over Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar Island including msewe, gonga, kyaso, uringe, pungwa, kibati, bomu, kunguwia, boso, kibunguu, ngokwa, sindimba and lizombe. Each of read more