HISTORY OF TAARAB.

Taarab, also called tarabu or tarab, is Zanzibar's most popular music. Taarab is popularly known as Swahili wedding music, since taarab musicians and music are an essential part of these multi-day festivities. The East African coast has served as a center for trade with countries throughout the Middle East and Asia, and taarab music reflects many of the cultures which have passed through this region.

Through its years of development, taarabu has been an exceptionally inclusive art form, adapting and incorporating elements from Swahili, Arabic, Indian, Egyptian, and other cultures. This can be seen in the range of instruments used in taarab ensembles and orchestras which include Middle Eastern oud and dumbek, Indian tabla, western electric keyboards, and the Japanese taishokoto (described as a "banjo/typewriter-key hybrid"). Similarly, taarab rhythms reflect traditional ngoma dances like chakacha, Indian film scores, Cuban rumba, and various Zairean and East African dance music. Perhaps most importantly, taarab lyrics radiate with the allusive intricacies of Swahili poetry and showcase the beauty of this long, literary tradition.

The word taarab is of Arabic derivation and contains multi-layered meaning. Gilbert Rouget in Music and Trance explains taarab comes from "the verb tariba which means "'to be moved, agitated'...also signifies 'to excite, to want to move,' and hence 'to sing, to make music." Historically, taarab was first introduced to Zanzibar in 1870 by the Sultan Seyyid Barghash who brought a group of Egyptian musicians to his court. Barghash sent a Zanzibari musician, Ibrahim Muhammed, to study in Cairo and upon his return he formed the Zanzibar Taarab Orchestra. In 1905, Zanzibar's second music society, Ikwhani Safaa Musical Club, was established and continues to thrive today with around 35 active members. Ikhwani Safaa and Culture Musical Club (founded in 1958) remain the leading Zanzibar taarab orchestras.

Taarab's first modern superstar ascended in 1928 with the Swahili singer Siti bint Saad who appeared on hundreds of 78's, many of them recorded in India. Unlike the majority of taarab which was sung in Arabic, Saad sang in Swahili and presaged a change in the direction of the music. After her death in 1950, taarab lyrics became prominently Swahili, and more female singers appeared with formerly all-male musical clubs. Another dramatic turn occurred with the revolution of 1964's political push to de-arabacize the island and its cultural institutions. Some taarab clubs switched from Arabic to Swahili names, (although many have reverted back), and musical societies were fully opened to women members.
Historia ya sit indo taarabu

Siti  Bint Saadi was born in Tanzania in the village called Fumba. In 1880, After her bith her parents gave her the name of ‘Mtumwa’ in Swahili language which means slave this is because she was born daring slavery period (Age). Then she was named by one of the slave master (Arabian) the name of siti which means Europeans lady.
Siti’s father was originated from Nyamwezis tribe from Tabora and her mother was originated from Mzigua Tribe from Tanga. But oth her father and mother were born in Zanzibar. The life situation of her parents was totally purest one but they struggled more in agriculture and sculpture the works in which siti was very well experienced two.
Daring the period (time) Education for girls was no longer appreciable so as a result siti had not used to go school. As well as participating in Qur-an school (Madrasa) in 1991 she decide to shift in town purposely to improve her standard of living, her residence in town was very successfully because she was able to meet with a man who was in a group of taarab music called ‘Nadi Ikhwani Safaa’ which means.

This man was known as muhsin Ali, in that time nad ihwanswaffa was only Taarab music established by Sultaan who was much more interesting in Entertainment and          decide known as Sultan Barghash saidi, this group was only for men and women were not allowed to join with this group (Music) because at that time if was taken as un civil for women Mr muhsin had success to find the talent of bibi siti bint Baraka and finally decided to teach her how to sings (song Training) as well as how to following music instruments as well as Arab language because she was only speaking Kiswahili at that time after that he went to introduce her to his fallow musicians of Nadi Ikhwani Safaa who had given her good company and participating with her in different show, they had many invitation from sultan as well as other Arabians, also in Wedding callebration could be help ithout the presence of siti bint saadi.
Siti was much more lovely and her name was foments in side and out side of Africa finally siti was started to be corresponded with Ummu Kulthum, The dadly singer who was very passed away in 8/7/1950 after that time a new born taken existed called kidude binti baraka.

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