Siti binti Saad | |
|---|---|
 Siti binti Saad c.1930s | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mtumwa Siti Binti Saad |
| Born | c. 1880 Fumba, Magharibi District, Mjini Mgaharibi Region, Tanzania |
| Origin | Tabora Region & Tanga Region, Tanzania |
| Died | August 1950 (aged 69–70) |
| Genres | Taarab |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Vocalist |
| Labels | Columbia Records |
Siti binti Saad (c.1880– August 1950) was a pioneering Tanzanian musician in the taarab musical style. Through her music she was also an anti-colonial activist, feminist and Swahili cultural icon of 20th century. She produced over 250 phonograph records throughout her lifetime, becoming the first East African vocalist to release commercial recordings in the 1920s and 1930s.[1] She also added a brand-new dance and pantomime component to taarab music called "natiki," which was inspired by Indian dance.[1] She was a trailblazer as a female performer in the genre during a time when men artists controlled the industry. She performed in a variety of languages, but most significantly in Swahili, in contrast to earlier vocalists who solely sang in Arabic.[1] She sang in cities of the coast of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.[1]
Her musical career peaked between 1928 and 1939, but she continued to perform until her death in 1950.[1] More female performers started appearing in the previously all-male singing clubs after her passing.[2] Taarab began to be performed more frequently in Swahili than in Arabic.[2][3]
- ^ a b c d e "History of Taarab". Archived from the original on 2007-03-14. Retrieved 2007-03-14.
- ^ a b "Zanzibar :: Zanzibar Music - Taarab". Archived from the original on 2007-03-23. Retrieved 2007-02-14.
- ^ Suleiman, A A 1969 "The Swahili singing star Siti binti Saad." Swahili 39,1:87-90