Artists

KVZ Tupendane is one of the leading ngoma (traditional drums and dance) groups from Chake Chake, the administrative capital town on our sister island of Pemba. The group has been working together since 2007, with 22 musicians playing traditional styles including chaso, boso, mdungushi and msondo.

Through their captivating performances, KVZ read more

Kirumbizi is a unique kind of stick dance and one of the earliest traditional types of ngoma from Pemba island, a tradition which has been handed down from generation to generation over centuries. According to Mzee Omar Khamisi, leader of Hiyari ya Moyowo group, kirumbizi has similar origins to the read more

Maulidi Juma started singing in the 1960s and formed his original Mombasa Musical Party in 1972. The group has released more than 40 Recordings and continues to be one of the most popular groups of Kenyan coastal taarab. Their music exemplifies the Mombasa sound which shows the influence of Indian read more

Born on the island of Lamu, Kenya, the young Zein was surrounded by music as his father played host to the Arab traders. He started to play the oud in the 60s in Mombasa, and subsequently became akin to a musical father for the Kenyan taarab scene, with all the 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

Senegalese kora player, percussionist and lead vocal,  Nomoucounda Cissoko weaves together his griot heritage with mbalax, blues, jazz, hip-hop and rock inspired improvisations. He is a perfectionist, committed artist and with a sense of improvisation and extraordinary adaptation.

International tours of this great artist allowed him to participate in several art events along read more