The Sounds of Taraab
The Sounds of Taraab is a newly formed ensemble that performs a particular genre of music from Zanzibar and coastal Eastern Africa. Known as "Taraab", this musical form consists of basically African rythmn and Swahili lyrics, heavily influenced by Arabic and Indian popular music.There are other influences as well, since this region has, since ancient times, been a hub of business, trade, and cultural intermingling.Vocalist Alsarah passionately conveys the Taraab lyrics of love and longing, while she is supported by oud master Haig Manookian. Accordion virtuoso Ismail Butera adds fleeting cadenzas and earthy drones, while multi instrumentalist Michael Hess adds color and ambience with violin and nai flute. Supporting all this is the powerhouse percussion team of Tiye Giraud and April Centro
Links: Official site · FMA profile
Catalogue & Listenership
Tracks
24
Albums
3
Total audio
3h 16m 37s
FMA listens
44,110
Favourites
43
Avg bitrate
256 kbps
Genre & Licence Profile
| Genre | Tracks |
|---|---|
| International | 24 |
- Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3. — 15
- Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 — 9
Top Tracks by Listens
| Track | Album | Year | Duration | Listens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shishituki | Live at WFMU on Rob Weisberg's Show on 4/7/2007 | 2007 | 4m 54s | 5,440 |
| Bowmazan Ya Mahaba Bi Kidude song | Live at WFMU on Rob Weisberg's Show on 4/7/2007 | 2007 | 6m 33s | 4,170 |
| Live at WFMU (Full set) | Live at WFMU on Rob Weisberg's Show on 4/7/2007 | 2007 | 59m 43s | 3,922 |
| Unalo | Live at WFMU on Rob Weisberg's Show on 4/7/2007 | 2007 | 10m 07s | 3,550 |
| Mahaba Wa Taka Nini | Zanzibar, New York | 2009 | 3m 50s | 3,288 |
| Mapenzi Matamu | Live at WFMU on Rob Weisberg's Show on 4/7/2007 | 2007 | 5m 17s | 2,716 |
| Lala Mpenzi Lala | Live at WFMU on Rob Weisberg's Show on 4/7/2007 | 2007 | 12m 01s | 2,618 |
| Kanilemaza Ikhwani Safaa | Live at WFMU on Rob Weisberg's Show on 4/7/2007 | 2007 | 9m 17s | 1,897 |
| Enyi Wana Damu Sharmila and Black Star Orchestra | Live at WFMU on Rob Weisberg's Show on 4/7/2007 | 2007 | 5m 07s | 1,760 |
| Interview | Live at WFMU on Rob Weisberg's Show on 4/7/2007 | 2007 | 5m 07s | 1,758 |
Track Length Distribution
| Length | Tracks | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 3–6 min | 16 | 66.7% |
| Over 6 min | 8 | 33.3% |
Release Timeline
Collaborators Credited
- Sounds of Taraab — 10
Artists in the Same International Lineage
- 40 Yale Women's Slavic Chorus tracks
- 40 Black Sea Hotel tracks
- 39 Turku, Nomads of the Silk Road tracks
- 34 Gogofski tracks
- 28 Zlatne Uste Balkan Brass Band tracks
- 27 Sláinte tracks
- 20 Panda Dub tracks
- 18 Negritage tracks
Track Catalogue
24 tracks shown
| Track | Album | Genre | Duration | Listens | Licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bashraf Salama [2] | Zanzibar, New York 2009 | International | 7m 16s | 1,240 | Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3. Rec. 2008-11-26 |
| Daka Kozi Manowe [2] | Zanzibar, New York 2009 | International | 4m 34s | 703 | Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3. Rec. 2008-11-26 |
| Nie Zama Nie Sema [2] | Zanzibar, New York 2009 | International | 5m 54s | 1,668 | Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3. Rec. 2008-11-26 |
| Mapenzi Matamu [2] | Zanzibar, New York 2009 | International | 5m 12s | 518 | Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3. Rec. 2008-11-26 |
| Mahaba Wa Taka Nini [2] | Zanzibar, New York 2009 | International | 3m 50s | 3,288 | Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3. Rec. 2008-11-26 |
| Eni Wana Damu [2] | Zanzibar, New York 2009 | International | 5m 08s | 517 | Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3. Rec. 2008-11-26 |
| Rufiji [2] | Zanzibar, New York 2009 | International | 6m 14s | 657 | Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3. Rec. 2008-11-26 |
| Lala, Mpenzi Lala [2] | Zanzibar, New York 2009 | International | 5m 30s | 476 | Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3. Rec. 2008-11-26 |
| Sishituki [2] | Zanzibar, New York 2009 | International | 4m 45s | 423 | Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3. Rec. 2008-11-26 |
| Unalo [2] | Zanzibar, New York 2009 | International | 9m 03s | 500 | Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3. Rec. 2008-11-26 |
| Bowmazan Ya Mahaba Bi Kidude song [92, 102] | Live at WFMU on Rob Weisberg's Show on 4/7/2007 2007 | International | 6m 33s | 4,170 | Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Rec. 2007-04-07 |
| Interview [92, 102] | Live at WFMU on Rob Weisberg's Show on 4/7/2007 2007 | International | 5m 07s | 1,758 | Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Rec. 2007-04-07 |
| Mapenzi Matamu [92, 102] | Live at WFMU on Rob Weisberg's Show on 4/7/2007 2007 | International | 5m 17s | 2,716 | Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Rec. 2007-04-07 |
| Kanilemaza Ikhwani Safaa [92, 102] | Live at WFMU on Rob Weisberg's Show on 4/7/2007 2007 | International | 9m 17s | 1,897 | Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Rec. 2007-04-07 |
| Enyi Wana Damu Sharmila and Black Star Orchestra [92, 102] | Live at WFMU on Rob Weisberg's Show on 4/7/2007 2007 | International | 5m 07s | 1,760 | Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Rec. 2007-04-07 |