When a genre of music that has changed very little of its original format over a period of almost a century begins to embrace contemporary influences, then its traditional fanbase is often stunned by ...

A famous Zanzibari singer and composer, Siti binti Saad established taarab as a performing art and as a mouthpiece for women in East Africa. In the process, she became a pioneer in many ways. Siti ...

Will Ross reports from Zanzibar and Mombasa on how traditional Taarab music is responding to the challenge of new influences. In the 1930's the great Taarab singer, Siti Bint Saad, was a prized ...

(CNN)-- Mohammed Issa Matona is a man on a mission. A master of taarab music, Matona is also the co-founder of Zanzibar's Dhow Countries Music Academy, a school dedicated to preserving the island's ...

Taarab music has come of age. Gone are the days when lovers of the soulful melodies merely sat back and listened as their favourite songs were played. Today, Taarab fans are packing entertainment ...

Along the East African coastal strip, few musical styles can rival the popularity enjoyed by taarab melodies, a genre believed to date back to late 19th century. Among the Swahili communities, live ...

Maryam Mohammed Hamdani says she is the first woman to play taarab, a traditional style of music native to East Africa, in public in Zanzibar. She says she wasn't able to learn as a child due to ...

Thogoto Teachers Training College on stage with Kiswahili choral verse special speaking composition for Teachers Training Colleges in the on-going Music Festival in kisumu and emerged the winners in ...

Not so long ago, Christopher John's days were spent herding his family's goats and cows in a rural part of Zanzibar, the tropical island off the coast of Tanzania. But he always loved music and used ...

Veteran Taarab icon Ally Star has died at Muhimbili Hospital, leaving behind timeless hits and a rich legacy in East African ...