Artists

There are not many bands whose music has been so pervasive that a new genre has been named after them. Such is the case with Young Stars’ Segere - the 2001 hit song that lent its name to both the style and also the band.

 Segere is especially noteworthy 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

Ferooz Mrisho is a leading member of Daz Nundaz, the legendary Dar es Salaam based bongo flava group formed in the mid-nineties by five members, Ferooz, Daz Baba, Critic, La Rumba, and Sajo.

After a series of talent show performances and other local concerts, DJ Ibra, a brother of the trio read more

This is Tanzania's equivalent of Congo's TPOK Jazz or Zaiko Langa Langa. As OTTU Jazz, and in various other guises, Msondo Ngoma Music Band has been around since 1964, with the current leader Maalim Gurumo, being the only original member left.

Being the oldest surviving band in East and Central Africa, read more

Matona's Cultural Band is comprised of musicians from Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania. Mohamed Issa Haji 'Matona' is one of Zanzibar's most legendary musicians. He is a teacher at the Dhow Countries Music Academy and has been performing music for over 40 years. 

 For the past two years Matona 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