Dhow Countries Music Academy is the only music school in Zanzibar. The academy preserves, develops and promotes the unique musical heritage of Zanzibar and the Swahili coast. It was established in 2002 and throughout the years it had more than 1500 students. DCMA is one the most prominent ambassadors of Zanzibar culture. The DCMA has gained an ever increasing international reputation for teaching music and proudly won the Roskilde award in October 2010 for teaching traditional music.

 

The school provides a unique opportunity for the inhabitants of Zanzibar and the dhow regions to study music both related to their cultural background and more global genres of music. In addition special workshops, seminars, concerts, exchange visits and networking activities take place throughout the year and the DCMA has developed into a vibrant national and international musical and cultural meeting point.

Particular emphasis is being placed on teaching traditional Zanzibar music styles, such as taarab, kidumbak or ngoma.

 

The DCMA is proud to be the guardians of a living cultural heritage and proud to preserve and promote the musical heritage of Zanzibar and the Dhow Countries. In training the students it ensures the continuation, knowledge, and legacy of a unique musical cultural heritage. In more recent years it has introduced global musical genres in both education and performance to expand the musical and cultural repertoire. Whilst its main mission is to provide music for education, employment and enjoyment, special emphasis is placed on broadening the educational opportunity for young people, children and women.

DCMA music groups of students and teachers are regularly performing in Zanzibar, enriching Zanzibar’s cultural life through regular concerts and performances in clubs and restaurants.

 

The DCMA offers Zanzibar residents and tourists taarab concerts, Afro Kabisa concerts, live Afro-Fusion music with jazz, funk, afro-beat and bongo-flava, as well as special concerts by international guest-musicians and public ngoma workshops. The DCMA goes a step further to offer our delighted tourists Swahili Dance classes for them to get into the swahili fusion and feel the groove. These brief classes last up to 60 minutes that are filled with art and beauty. These classes also tend to be a source of happiness and laughter to most of our guests.