Ikhwani Safaa Musical Club

about

The Ikhwani Safaa Musical Club was founded in 1905 following the Sultan's intention to create recreational associations on the island. The name itself means "brothers who love one another" and reflects the egalitarian and supportive aims of the club. The Club is the oldest in Zanzibar, and has been one of the main currents in Zanzibari music throughout this century - sales of their cassettes comprise the bulk of the cassette copy-shops' trade. After the revolution in 1964, the name was changed to the Malindi Musical Club and affiliated to the local Party Branch, but is now (1988) reverting to the original name. This means that its orchestra is currently known by either name on the island. After the revolution the Club became open to women members. Following the disappearance of royal patrons and then the socialist state, Zanzibarís taarab orchestras are now fighting a tough battle for survival. Ikhwani Safaa is a 20-piece orchestra with violins, ganoons, ney, guitar, accordion and percussion, and they've been worked into great form. The double-bass player use thick rubbery shark line pulled up to tension for their strings, the ganoon players use a much lighter fish gauge. As it is, the string players seem to have a convention of tuning below concert pitch to avoid excessive wear and tear on the strings, effectively turning the keyboards and accordions into transposing instruments. The Club has visited Kenya, Burundi, Oman and Dubai, and many of its musicians visited the UK

top songs

albums

Taarab 2

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The Rough Guide To The Music Of Tanzania

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Zanzibara 1: A Hundred Years of Taarab in Zanzibar: 1905-2005

Taarab 2 / Music of Zanzibar

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Songlines, Vol. 34

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Off the Beaten Track (Music Rough Guides)

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Taarab 3

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Zanzibar 01 • 1905-2005 • Cent ans de Taarab à Zanzibar

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Africa 50 Years Of Music - East Africa 3

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Zanzibara, Vol. 1: A Hundred Years of Tarab in Zanzibar

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Off the Beaten Track

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2006 - The Rough Guide to The Music of Tanzania

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