Universal love

Foto: Terje Eknes Krogh

It was love at first sight when Mari Boine met the musicians from Zanzibar. Even though the artists come from two completely different worlds within music, the musicians found it easy to collaborate from day one. Their collaboration has evolved into something magical that you will get to experience this summer at Riddu Riđđu.

Mari Boine has performed at Riddu Riđđu several times, and now that she’s back, she does it with her new friends from Zanzibar.  It was Sigbjørn Nedland’s idea that Boine and the musicians from Zanzibar should meet when Boine’s band visited Zanzibar last winter. Matona and Rajab performs the traditional music on the island, called taarab, and work as teachers at a music school there. They are professional musicians just like Boine and her band members.

Tradition meets tradition

The traditional music, taarab, is a unique style of music in Africa. Taarab is a mixture between traditional music from Zanzibar and India, something that evolved when the sultan from India was the ruler of Zanzibar. The sultan was very much into the traditional music from back home. Consequently, he sent musicians to India to learn India’s particular style of music at the time. When they returned, the musicians started mixing their newly acquired skills and knowledge with the traditional music of Zanzibar.

”We are so proud to announce that Mari Boine and her friends from Zanzibar will perform at Riddu Riđđu this summer! This will be an amazing and unique music experience you don’t want to miss out on”, says festival leader Ragnhild Dalheim Eriksen.

Mari Boine’s band members at Riddu Riđđu this year include:

Svein Schultz (bass), Gunnar Augland (drums), Roger Ludvigsen (guitar), Herman Rundberg (percussion/worldstick/accordion and more), Ole Jørn Myklebust (trumpet/saxaphone), Matona/Mohammed Issa Haji (violin/oud), Rajab Suleiman (qanun)