Siti Binti Saad
Zanzíbar, 1880–1950
Hija de esclavos. Pionera en ser mujer cantando taarab y por hacerlo en swahili. Su popularidad traspasó Zanzíbar y Tanzania por su habilidad cantando en Hindi, Gujarati, Árabe y Swahili.
Para la mayoría de los africanos el taarab empezó con ella.
Su estatus de diva es comparable al de la egipcia Umm Kalthum.
Dotada de una prodigiosa voz empezó a cantar con su grupo para los ricos de Zanzíbar y no había celebración (boda, bautizo, etc) a la que no les llamaran.
En 1928 es invitada por Columbia y sus Master's Voice para grabar en Mumbai (India).
Ella introdujo una forma de danza de la India y el mimo en actuaciones taarab, que en Zanzíbar se conocían como natiki (posiblemente de la palabra hindi general de la danza, Natak).
La instrumentación estándar en las grabaciones hechas por Siti Bint Saad y su grupo en la década de 1930 consistió en un ud (laúd), uno o dos violines, un dumbak (tabla) y un rika. Siti podía tocar tari o rika. Su forma de cantar y sus habilidades interpretativas se siguen manteniendo como una vara de medir contra el que los artistas taarab de hoy son juzgados.
http://www.zanzibarmusic.org/history_of_taarab.html
Prefería grabar sus discos en India, de la que recibió muchas influencias.
Realizó más de 150 grabaciones.
Destacan sus éxitos: Uchungu wa Mwana, Waimbaji wa Juzi, Siweke Tamaa Mbele y Ela Kafa Ndugu Zangu.
Es difícil, por no decir imposible, encontrar sus discos. Lo único que he encontrado son estas recopilaciones que incluyen algunas de sus canciones, pero que dan una perfecta idea del taarab clásico.
Poetry Languid Charm: Swahili Music From Tanzania Kenya
Topic, 2007
Recopilación de piezas en 78 rpm de 1930 a 1950.
1 Yearning Keeps Increasing in My Heart (con Jauharah Orchestra)
2 There Isn't One Who Wouldn't Desire You, If You Clean Yourself Up (with Nosor Khalfan / Jauharah)
3 You Are a Cat (with Siti Binti Saad)
4 Don't Be Greedy(with Sheikh Mbaruk, Sheikh Mbaruk / Siti Binti Saad)
5 Sheikh Salim's Song (with Egyptian Musical Club)
6 Taksim (Improvisation) on the Nahaw Maqam-Song For Two Instruments (with Ramazan Na Subeit Bin Ambar)
7 Oh, Lord of Heaven (with Watoto Wa Madrasa El-Hasanain)
8 I Am Ill, My Fellow (with Egyptian Musical Club)
9 Cassava of Jang'ombe (with Siti Binti Saad)
10 Like a Wodden Boat With Outrigger (with Sheikh Mbaruk, Sheikh Mbaruk / Siti Binti Saad)
11 Ee, Baba Pakistani (with Alwatan Musical Club)
12 Nahaw No.2 (with Bom Amberton)
13 There Is No End See All 2 (with Alwatan Musical Club)
14 I Am Done With Being Questioned (with Party of Ras Maalim Rivue, Siti Guri, Siti Guri / Party of Ras Maalim Rivue)
15 I Desire a Flower (Love) (with Maalim Abdi)
16 Where Is the Message? (with Alwatan Musical Club, Alwatan Musical Club / M.Maftaha)
http://redaprilus.blogspot.com/2010/06/welove-music-7_08.html
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Swahili Music (Tanzania and Kenya) - 78 RPM Recordings [1930 - 1955]
Musical Ark, 2008. Álbum en mp3.
1 Nimekwisha Swalitika Party Of Ras Maaalim Rivue, Siti Guri
2 Kingi Georgi Tumpe Salama
Group, Salim Chapa, The Group
3 Mwizionaumwa
Bob Amberon, Egyptian Musical Club
4 Mwanagu Lala
5 Ee Baba Pakistani
6 Hayana Ukomo
7 Nna Hamu
8 Makuganya
9 Taksim Nahwi
10 Iwapi Risala
11 Masanga
12 Muhogo Wa Jangombe
13 Natamanl Uwa
14 Sheikh Salims
15 Kigalawa
16 Wanyango Jarah
17 Taksim Nahaw
18 Usiweke Tamaa Mbele
19 Wewe Paka
20 Ya Rabba Ssama. Children Of El-Hasanain Madrasa (Koranic School), Sheikh Hasan Bin Juma
AFRICA Echoes of Africa (Early Recordings)
Wergo, 2003
1 Umgoboti (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Willie Gumede Concertina B-Ensemble)
2 Anta Lhayatu (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Traditional-Lyricist | Al Usthadh Umar Awadh Ban-Ensemble)
3 Bea Tsin No. 2 (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | West African Instrumental Quintet-Ensemble)
4 Nwomboko (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Traditional-Lyricist | Mamica-Ensemble)
5 Mapenzi Ya Ashiki (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Traditional-Lyricist | Abdo Shamakh-Ensemble)
6 Be Ngi Hamba (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Traditional-Lyricist | Darktown Strutters-Ensemble)
7 Nigbati Anobi Gunsanma (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Amusa, Hadji-vocals | Mustafa, Hadji-vocals)
8 Aduke (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Lagos Mozart Orchestra-Ensemble)
9 Itseko (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Traditional-Lyricist | Nini Mikie Group-Ensemble)
10 Nijia Ungurusumbwe, Part I (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Traditional-Lyricist | Saad, Sitti Binti-vocals)
11 Nijia Ungurusumbwe, Part II (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Traditional-Lyricist | Saad, Sitti Binti-vocals)
12 U Gumede (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Willie Gumede Concertina B-Ensemble)
13 Nalat Ala Yadaha (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Traditional-Lyricist | Abdo Shamakh-Ensemble)
14 March (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Traditional-Lyricist | Mamica-Ensemble)
15 Wa Wie Me Ye Mina Asabah (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Appam B.E. Sackey's B-Ensemble)
16 Wiwi Singomlil' Ovhutahayo (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Traditional-Lyricist | Darktown Strutters-Ensemble)
17 Aiye Loja (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Abibu Oluwa Group-Ensemble)
18 Tumkimiree Simba (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Traditional-Lyricist | Ngoma Dunduri-Ensemble)
19 Ore Mi Kini Se (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Lagos Mozart Orchestra-Ensemble)
20 Kofia Nyekundu (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Askari Wa K.A.R. Ya Sita-Ensemble)
21 Abasuafu Ara Gyan (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Appam B.E. Sackey's B-Ensemble)
22 Mahamodu Nadani (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Ishaku Dan Zhabarumoh Group-Ensemble)
23 Ashac (Traditional-Non-Classical Composer | Traditional-Lyricist | Timayare, H.M.-vocals)
24 Layiwola Ake
http://ghostcapital.blogspot.com/2011/02/va-echoes-of-africa-early-recordings.html
