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Taarab Fact of the Day

Traditional Taarab orchestras can include up to 50 musicians playing a blend of instruments from three continents: the oud and qanun from the Arab world, the violin and accordion from Europe, and various percussion instruments from Africa. This makes Taarab one of the most musically diverse ensemble traditions anywhere on earth.

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About Taarab music

Taarab on Mdundo · updated 9 Sep 2026
319Artists
1,690Songs
130KStreams this month

Siti binti Saad was the first Zanzibari woman to record commercially, cutting records in Bombay in the 1920s that sold across East Africa and the Arab world. Bi Kidude — who performed into her 90s and possibly past 100 — is the genre's most legendary figure. Among modern artists, Zuhura Swaleh and the orchestras of Ikhwani Safaa and Culture Musical Club remain central to the tradition.

Taarab is one of East Africa's oldest musical traditions, blending Arab, Indian, and African influences into a sound built on poetic Swahili lyrics about love, longing, and betrayal. Originating in Zanzibar in the 1870s, it is performed by orchestras of up to 50 musicians playing instruments from three continents.

Taarab began at the court of Sultan Barghash bin Said in Zanzibar in the 1870s, when Egyptian and Indian musicians were brought to perform for the royal household. The word taarab comes from Arabic meaning 'to be moved or feel joy through music'. From Zanzibar it spread along trade routes to mainland Tanzania and coastal Kenya.

A full Taarab orchestra can include up to 50 musicians playing the oud and qanun from the Arab world, violin and accordion from Europe, and various African percussion instruments. This three-continent instrument blend makes Taarab one of the most musically diverse ensemble traditions anywhere on earth.

Mipasho is a modern, stripped-down variant of Taarab that emerged in the 1990s. Where classical Taarab uses elaborate poetic metaphors, Mipasho is far more direct — often sexually suggestive and designed to send pointed messages at specific people in the room. It uses fewer instruments and a faster tempo than classical Taarab.

Taarab has a long tradition of coded social messaging at weddings and social events. A singer performs lyrics aimed at a rival or enemy in the crowd without naming them directly. Audience members who understand the context respond with ululations and pin money to the singer's clothing — making the performance simultaneously music, social commentary, and theatre.

Yes. UNESCO has recognised Taarab as part of the cultural heritage of the East African coast. Zanzibar's annual Sauti za Busara festival — meaning 'sounds of wisdom', running since 2003 — is one of the most important platforms for Taarab to reach international audiences. European and American world music labels have recorded and distributed Taarab albums since the 1990s.

Mombasa developed its own distinct Taarab style that is slightly faster and more influenced by Kenyan Benga rhythms than the Zanzibari original. The lyrical style also differs — Mombasa Taarab tends to be more direct, bridging toward Mipasho, while Zanzibari classical Taarab maintains the more ornate poetic tradition.

It is under pressure but far from dead. The two great Zanzibar clubs — Ikhwani Safaa (founded 1905) and Culture Musical Club (founded 1958) — are still active. Younger artists are recording contemporary Taarab and Mipasho that reaches new audiences on streaming platforms. The challenge is that full orchestral Taarab is expensive to perform, which makes the stripped-down modern variants more commercially viable.

What is Taarab music?
Taarab is a genre of music that traces its roots to the East African Coast. It is a traditional sound influenced by the Swahili culture. It is a combination of beats and sounds pre-Islamic Swahili and Arab tunes performed in a poetic manner and with deep underlying messages forcing on various key issues in life including; relationships, family and money among others. It is a smooth type of music that requires less effort dancing to. It is mostly popular among women. It is an extremely lively art form, and immensely popular especially with women. It is somehow similar to zilizopendwa music which also hails from the East African Coast.

Where did Taarab come from?
While there are many theories regarding its origin, reliable sources indicate that it originated from the palace of the Sultan to Zanzibari. At the palace, the royal family would be treated to music during weddings and other community events. It is this music that later came to be referred to as Taarab. The genre went mainstream in 1928 thanks to the efforts of artists like Siti Binti Saad.

Over the years, it has grown in popularity in not only Kenya and Tanzania, but also other countries in Africa. In Tanzania, musicians like; Mzee Yusuph, Culture Musical Club, Bi Kidude, Zuhura Swaleh, Al-Watan Musical Club and Maulid Juma are considered pioneers of the genre. Their efforts created a foundation for a new set of artists who revolutionized the genre and came about with what is now referred to as modern Taarab.

Currently, you can’t mention this genre especially in Tanzania without featuring among others; the legendary Khadija Kopa, Mzee Yusuph, Rahma Machupa, Leyla Rashid, Omar Kopa, Jahazi Modern Taarab and Mashauzi Classic Modern Taarab. Like other genres, Taarab has undergone tremendous revolution, and being a traditional style, it lost prominence somewhere along the way as the younger generation focused on fast-paced music. Despite declining in prominence, artists like Khadija Kopa have stuck with the genre, opting to incorporate different aspects in a bid to make it more appealing especially to today’s generation.

She worked with Tanzania’s leading musician Diamond Platnumz on a song dubbed ‘Nasema Nawe’ and later worked with her daughter Zuchu on ‘Mauzauza’. Zuchu is currently among the top five female artists in Tanzania. She enjoys a huge following in Tanzania. Her decision to work with her mum on a Taarab song created an impression among the young that the genre is not that old-fashioned after all.

Which are the top songs in this genre?
Kwa Hilo Hujanikomoa - Mzee Yusuph
Mpenzi Chocolate - Mzee Yusuph
Siwaguni wala Siwakohoi - Fatma Nyoro
Nani Kama Mama - Isha Mashauzi
Acha Niwakere - Jahazi Modern
Mjini Chuo Kikuu - Khadija Kopa
Njiwa - Kitaa Records
Mkungu wa Ndizi - Q Chief ft TID
Umbea - Harun Deey
Riziki Aina Mwenyewe- Le Grand Utalii Band
Kunguni Mtu- Bluestars Modern

Who are the most popular artists in this genre
Some of the most popular artistes under this genre are:
Khadija Kopa
Mzee Yusuph
Isha Mashauzi
Jahazi Modern
Zuhura Swaleh
Bi Kidude
Siti Binti Saad
Matano Juma
Leyla Rashid
Seif Salim Saleh
Maulid Juma

In which countries is this genre most popular?
Kenya
Tanzania
Zanzibar
Nigeria
Uganda

Is it the leading genre in Tanzania?
In the early 90s it was one of the most listened to music in Tanzania. However, with the emergence of Bongo fleva, Singeli and bongo hip-hop, the genre has lost prominence, but it has not gone extinct.

Is it similar to Singeli?
Not really, Singeli is really fast and makes use of several traditional instruments. On the other hand, Taarab is slow, poetic and is meant to help you relax as you unwind. It is suitable for weddings and love-themed events. It is basically the music of love.

How to listen and download Taarab songs on Mdundo.com
These songs are available for free download and streaming on mdundo.com. To listen to this kind of music, visit mdundo.com and search for Taarab. A catalog of all available MP3 songs under the category will then be provided for you to select the ones you want. You can download/listen to the latest music on Mdundo through your phone, laptop or any other device that can access the internet.

Why choose mdundo.com?
Mdundo offers the latest MP3 songs for free streaming and download. All you need is a feature phone and you can start listening to some of the best songs from your top artists. Additionally, you can also enjoy DJ mixes specially curated to meet your needs. The songs are also easy to download and do not need a lot of data since they have been customized for users with feature phones.

Stream/Download new MP3 songs online. Find the latest Taarab music on Mdundo.com for free.

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