Amina Omar Juma, Abdulrazak Abubakar Abdulrazak and Rahma Hassan Ameir of Siti & the Band are travelling from Zanzibar, Tanzania to Lagos, Nigeria today to participate in this year’s edition of Felabration! festival.
Siti & The Band are a Zanzibar-based band who have been rising in popularity for their contemporary arrangements of Zanzibar’s traditional Taraab music. The band have been playing together for the past two years, after studying traditional Taarab at the Dhow Countries Music Academy in Zanzibar. Their first album, “Fusing the Roots,” was recorded in 2017 and independently released in 2018. With empowering lyrics, the album carries a strong feminist statement, promoting the self-determination of African women. The unique musical compositions beautifully mesh contemporary rhythms with traditional Taarab, conveying the timelessness of Zanzibar’s musical traditions.
Felabration! is an annual festival commemorating the life and times of the late great Fela Anikulakpo Kuti, Nigeria’s most beloved and influential musical icon. The festival is a major week-long musical event, attracting thousands of visitors annually from all over the world. The festival is a particularly meaningful platform for Siti and the Band, as their main inspiration is the legendary Siti Binti Saad, a revolutionary musician who is also known as the mother of Zanzibar traditional Taarab music.
At Felabration!, the band will be performing their compositions, while also engaging in networking, collaboration and exploring transnational exchange opportunities. AMA wishes them a safe and fruitful journey and a fantastic performance!
Photo credit: Siti & the Band