Taarab facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taarab |
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| Cultural origins | Late 19th century |
| Subgenres | |
| Coastal taarab | |
| Regional scenes | |
| African Coastal Region | |
| Local scenes | |
 Tanzania •  Zanzibar •  Kenya |
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| Other topics | |
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Taarab is a special kind of music that is very popular in countries like Tanzania and Kenya. It mixes sounds and styles from many places. These include the African Great Lakes region, North Africa, the Middle East, and India. Taarab became well-known around 1928. This was when its first big star, Siti binti Saad, became famous.
Local stories say that Sultan Seyyid Barghash bin Said (who ruled from 1870 to 1888) helped make Taarab popular. He loved fancy things and enjoying life. This ruler first brought Taarab to Zanzibar. From there, it spread across the African Great Lakes area. The Sultan even brought a Taarab music group from Egypt to play in his palace. Later, he sent Mohamed Ibrahim from Zanzibar to Egypt. Mohamed went to learn music and how to play the Kanun, a type of stringed instrument. When he returned, he started the Zanzibar Taarab Orchestra. In 1905, another music group, Ikwhani Safaa Musical Club, was formed in Zanzibar. This club is still active today. Ikwhani Safaa and the Culture Musical Club (started in 1958) are still the top Taarab orchestras in Zanzibar.
Contents
What is Taarab Music?
Taarab is a lively music style. It is especially popular with women. It combines old and new sounds. This music is a big part of social life for the Swahili people. You can hear it along the coast, especially in Zanzibar, Tanga, and even in Mombasa and Malindi in Kenya.
Where Does the Name Taarab Come From?
The word Taarab comes from the Arabic language. The Arabic word طرب means "having pleasure" or "delight with music." This perfectly describes the joyful feeling of Taarab music.
The Story of Taarab Music
After Taarab spread from the Sultan's palace, it became popular at weddings and other community events in Zanzibar. The first famous female singer of Taarab was Siti bint Saad.
Early Days of Taarab
In 1928, Siti bint Saad and her band made history. They were the first group from the region to record their music. They were also the first East Africans to record at the Bombay HMV studios in India. Siti bint Saad became one of the most famous Taarab musicians ever.
Over the next few decades, many bands and musicians kept Taarab popular. These included Bi Kidude, Mzee Yusuph, Culture Musical Club, and Al-Watan Musical Club. They made Taarab well-known in Tanzania and around the world.
Taarab Grows and Changes
Other groups, like Kidumbak ensembles, also became popular. These groups used two small drums, a bass, violins, and dancers. The dancers used claves and maracas (shakers). In the 1960s, a group called the Black Star Musical Club from Tanga updated the Taarab style. They brought it to new audiences, especially in Burundi and Kenya.
More recently, modern Taarab bands like East African Melody have appeared. They play a new style of Taarab that people can dance to. Their songs often have very direct lyrics. This is different from older Taarab groups, where the meaning of the lyrics was often hinted at, not said directly.
Today, many modern Taarab songs are made using keyboards. This makes the music easier to carry to different places. Also, these newer groups are much smaller than the older Taarab orchestras. This means they can travel and perform more easily across the region and beyond.
See also
- Music of Tanzania
