Yes, we have the Afrobeats, Amapiano, Mbalax, Genge, Benga, Soukous, Kuduro, and other key genres in African music. But is it possible that there are African music genres that you’ve never heard of but should have?

Let's take a quick trip to the white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters of Zanzibar, where music serves as a bridge between many worlds. Here, African rhythms collided with Arab melodies, Indian scales, and even European orchestral traditions to create a genre unlike any other: Taarab.

Before describing Taarab, please take a moment to listen to a sample piece: Ya Laiti by Bi Kidude.

Taarab is lush, poetic, and deeply emotional. Sung mostly in Swahili, its lyrics often explore love, longing, and social commentary, delivered with the elegance of poetry. The instrument arrangement is a blend of the oud (a Middle Eastern lute), violins, accordions, and percussion, weaving a sound that feels both classical and coastal.

The roots go back to the late 19th century, when Sultan Seyyid Barghash of Zanzibar invited Egyptian musicians to his palace. Over time, locals adapted the style, embedding African storytelling and rhythm into it. One of Taarab’s most celebrated voices, Bi Kidude, turned the genre into a powerful vehicle for cultural pride, women empowerment, and resistance.

Unlike the fast-paced beats of Afrobeats or Amapiano, Taarab invites listeners to sit, reflect, and feel. It is music that carries the salt air of the Indian Ocean, the poetry of Swahili tradition, and the layered history of trade, migration, and cultural exchange.

Interestingly, as Taarab spread beyond the Zanzibar shores, it evolved into other equally interesting subgenres with fascinating regional characteristics across the East African coast, each reflecting local tastes and cultural influences.

One is the Mombasa style. This style is the closest to its Arab roots, with the oud taking center stage and musical structures that hew closely to traditional Arabic maqam music. The Mombasa style preserves the genre's original Middle Eastern DNA while incorporating Swahili poetry and coastal African sensibilities.

Another subgenre is the Tanga style. This style represents a more contemporary approach, marking a significant departure from traditional instrumentation. Electric guitars replace ouds, keyboards and drum machines provide the rhythmic foundation, and the music incorporates more pronounced African rhythms from ngoma traditions. This style demonstrates how Taarab adapted to modern tastes while maintaining its poetic soul.

The Zanzibar Style remains the keeper of classical Taarab traditions. Here, the original instrumentation—oud, violins, accordions, and traditional percussion—continues to weave those distinctive melodies that first emerged in Sultan Barghash's palace over a century ago.

Would you like to experience more of Taarab music? Explore the works of both legendary artists, such as Bi Kidude, and contemporary innovators like Jahazi Modern Taarab, on the African Music Library.

Fatuma binti Baraka, best known as Bi Kidude, was a renowned Tanzanian taarab singer, known as the "Queen of Taarab" music.

The African Music Genre You’ve Never Heard of (But Should)

Fatuma binti Baraka, best known as Bi Kidude, was a renowned Tanzanian taarab singer, known as the "Queen of Taarab" music.

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