Zanzibar is a coral reef island situated in the Indian Ocean, close to East African Tanzania, and has been a flourishing turning point for traders from Central Africa, the Middle East and India for centuries. One of the heritages of the island's mosaic of cultural influences is taarab music, the first mass mediated music of the region. During the 23rd Tokyo Summer Festival the group Culture Musical Club, established in 1958, presents taarab music - Swahili style - at its best. The orchestra will be joined by a special guest: taarab queen and 95 years old living legend Bi Kidude (full name: Fatuma Binti Baraka), who is the leading symbol of Swahili traditional taarab and Unyago music.

The word taarab derives from the Arabian language and means “to be moved, agitated”. Taarab is linked to the trance state of dancers during religious or ceremonial rites. According to local legend, the Sultan Seyyid Bargash bin Said was the first to introduce Arabic instruments to East Africa by bringing taarab musicians from Egypt to Zanzibar at a time when the island was ruled by sultans of Oman in the 19th century. The medium for taarab poetic singing is the Swahili language which finds its roots in Arabic and Eastern Bantu.

Long melody lines and vocals similar to Arabic or Indian singing characterize taarab music. Poly-rhythms with influences from Latin music blend together in a complex way in this mix of East African and Western music.