Zanzibar Travel Guide
Zanzibar Travel Guide
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Venues & recordings

Zanzibar Travel Guide

Venues and recordings



To get a flavour of the unique experience of Zanzibar music, recommended recordings are listed below. For an unforgettable live experience, your best option is the Festival of the Dhow Countries around the beginning of July each year. You can also stop by the Dhow Countries Music Academy, Zanzibar's first music school, which opened in the old Customs House on the waterfront of Stone Town in 2002. The school provides music lessons as well as instruments at minimal cost to anyone interested in studying music from the Dhow region or acquiring mastery of an instrument. Particular emphasis is on teaching traditional Zanzibar music styles, with most of the teachers coming from Zanzibar. It is a great place to meet local musicians and get further information on Zanzibar music and cultural events.

The Music of Zanzibar, Vols 1–4 (Globestyle Recordings, 1988)
Mila na Utamaduni – Spices of Zanzibar (Network Medien GmbH, 1996)
Kidumbak Kalcha: Ng'ambo – The other side of Zanzibar (Dizim, 1997)
Zanzibar: Music for Celebration (Topic Records, 2000)
Bashraf: Taarab Instrumentals from Zanzibar (Dizim, 2000)
Beni ya Kingi – Brass Band Music of Zanzibar (Dizim Records, 2003)
Waridi: Scents of Zanzibar – Culture Musical Club (Virgin France, 2004)
Spices of Zanzibar - Culture Musical Club (Network, 2004)


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