Like much of the Islands' culture, the music of Zanzibar is a mosaic of different influences and styles, borrowed from all over the Indian Ocean and beyond. The best example of this creative blending of traditions is taarab music, the national sound of the Islands. Taarab music has flourished since the first decades of the 20th century, becoming the region's first mass mediated music. Drawing in influences from the Arab world, India,Indonesia and the West, taarab blended these with the classical traditions of Swahili poetry, local rhythm and melody. With the release of international recordings, the traditional sound of Zanzibar has won enthusiastic admirers from all over the world. Taarab orchestras resemble closely the classical Egyptian orchestras, with full violin section, cello and bass, but also accordion, oud, qanun, rhythm section, keyboards and ney flute. "There's hardly anything in the whole of Africa as uplifting as the swelling sounds of a full Taarab orchestra in full sail." (Andy Morgan in Folk Roots Magazine) Taarab is the most common style of music performed at weddings on the Islands of Zanzibar. It is a unique blend of musical elements from the middle East, India and the West, combined to varying degrees, local African Music practices. It is an essential ingredient of most celebrations.

History of Taarab Music