Artists

Members of Jagwa Music and the international electronica artists Teichmann Brothers met during a recent Jagwa performance in Berlin's Urban Spree club. The Brothers invited them to their studio the following day and after an extended jam it was decided that this needs to go on stage. International reviewers of read more

For women, singing can be the road to personal power. When their voice is as strong as Malian vocalist Khaira Arby's, that power can move mountains, change minds, and win battles. Arby's rich, potent sound aims to do just that, shifting seamlessly between the edgy and progressive and the traditional read more

'Kidum' is the name given to a 20-litre jerry can in Kirundi, the official language spoken in Burundi. His mother gave him that nickname due to his chubbiness as a child. Ironically, Kidum (whose ‘real’ name is Jean-Pierre Nimbona) taught himself to play the drums by practicing on read more

Kidumbak is among the most popular traditional music styles of Zanzibar. With its roots in the taarab traditions and heavy emphasis on the rhythmic aspect, for local people it makes the music highly infectious and danceable.

Kidumbak is often performed at Zanzibar weddings, birthdays, beach parties and other joyous read more

Kijiji Family The Big Nation started in 2004 and have been busy redefining the local "zenji flava" (Zanzibar hiphop) scene. They perform regularly in Zanzibar and have been invited to play in other parts of the country including Morogoro, Tanga and Dar es Salaam. In 2006 and 2007 they won read more

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