Mim Suleiman Nyuli (2009)
Zanzibar, the archipelago off the coast of Tanzania, has an interesting history. From around the 7th century onward, Arab, Persian, Indian and later European traders visited the islands, making it a key trading hub for spices, ivory and slaves. The archipelago was especially known for its spice trade, leading to the moniker “Spice Islands.”
The traders brought a plethora of influences to the island’s culture. Take Taarab as a case in point: The music genre with roots tracing back to the late 19th century is heavily influenced by Swahili, Arabic, Indian and Egyptian musical styles, among others.
The instrumentation of classical Taarab ensembles bears witness to this rich cultural history, which includes the oud (a Persian lute-like string instrument), the qanun (an Assyrian zither), violins, accordions and various percussion instruments like tabla (from the Indian subcontinent) and dumbeks (from West Asia). In recent years Taarab bands also started incorporating various types of keyboards and other electronic instruments as well as the Japanese Taishōgoto, a harp that is operated with a typewriter-like keyboard.
Yet it’s not just the instrumentation that has changed over the years but also the musical influences. Zanzibar-born and UK-based Mim Suleiman’s 2009 album Tungi is a great example. Produced by American house music legend Maurice Fulton, the vibrant LP reads as some sort of disco-boogie oddball, “Nyuli” being its highlight and today’s song.
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