Taarab is a type of music that is popular in Tanzania, Kenya, and other areas where Swahili is spoken. It has been influenced by music traditions from the African Great Lakes, North Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. Taarab became well-known in 1928 when Siti binti Saad, the first famous artist of the genre, began performing.

According to local stories, Sultan Seyyid Barghash bin Said, who ruled from 1870 to 1888, helped spread taarab. He loved music and enjoyed the arts. He started taarab in Zanzibar by bringing a group of musicians from Egypt to perform in his palace called Beit el-Ajab. Later, he sent Mohamed Ibrahim from Zanzibar to Egypt to learn how to play the kanun, a string instrument similar to a zither. When he returned, he created the Zanzibar Taarab Orchestra. In 1905, the second music group in Zanzibar, called Ikwhani Safaa Musical Club, was formed. This group still exists today. In 1958, another group named Ikwhani Safaa and Culture Musical Club was founded. These two groups have become the leading taarab orchestras in Zanzibar.

Etymology

The word "taarab" comes from the Arabic language. The Arabic word "tarab" (طرب) means "feeling happiness or enjoyment from music."

History of taarab music

After taarab music spread from the Sultan's palace to Zanzibari weddings and other community events, the first famous female taarab singer was Siti bint Saad. In 1928, she and her band became the first from the region to record music for sale. They were also the first East Africans to be recorded in the Bombay His Master's Voice studios. Siti bint Saad became one of the most well-known taarab musicians in history.

Over the next few decades, bands and musicians such as Bi Kidude, Mzee Yusuph, Culture Musical Club, and Al-Watan Musical Club helped keep taarab popular in Tanzania and introduced it to audiences worldwide. Smaller groups called Kidumbak ensembles also became popular, especially among poor people in Zanzibar. These groups used two small drums, a bass instrument, violins, and dancers who played claves and maracas.

In the 1960s, a group called the Black Star Musical Club from Tanga modernized taarab, helping it reach audiences in Burundi and Kenya. More recently, modern taarab bands like East African Melody have emerged. These groups also create songs called mipasho, which are related to taarab but focus on themes for women.

Taarab music combines Swahili poetry with rhythmic singing performed by male or female singers and large ensembles of musicians. It is an important part of the social life of Swahili people living along the coasts of Zanzibar, Tanga, Mombasa, and Malindi in Kenya.

As Swahili-speaking people traveled, taarab music spread with them. It reached inland areas such as Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, where taarab groups compete with other popular music styles. It also spread to the Comoros, where it is called twarab, and remains an important musical tradition there.

In the early 2000s, a new style of taarab music began to develop. This change has caused debate, as groups like East African Melody have created modern taarab that is easier to dance to. Their songs use direct lyrics, unlike older songs that only hinted at their meanings. Modern taarab songs may include explicit or graphic descriptions of topics like relationships. Many groups now use keyboards instead of traditional instruments, making their music easier to transport for performances. These groups are smaller than traditional taarab orchestras, allowing them to tour more easily. Tanzanians continue to develop this new style of music. Mzee Yusuph, the leader of the band Jahazi Modern Taarab, is known as the king of modern taarab.

There is also a subgenre of Swahili taarab called Indian taarab or taarab ya kihindi. This style uses Swahili words set to melodies from Indian films and is performed in a style similar to Indian music.