Siti binti Saad
Encyclopedia
Siti binti Saad was a pioneering artist in the taraab genre of east African music. In an era in which male singers predominated, she was a pioneer as a woman singer in the genre. In contrast to previous singers who sang in Arabic, she sang in Swahili
. She sang in cities of the coast of Kenya, Tanganyika and Zanzibar. http://www.zanzibarmusic.org/History%20of%20Taarab.htm
The peak of her career was from 1928 to her death in 1950, during which she recorded over 150 78 long playing recordings in India.
Subsequent to her death, more women singers appeared in formerly all-male singing clubs. http://zanzibar.net/zanzibar/zanzibar_music_taarab
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
. She sang in cities of the coast of Kenya, Tanganyika and Zanzibar. http://www.zanzibarmusic.org/History%20of%20Taarab.htm
The peak of her career was from 1928 to her death in 1950, during which she recorded over 150 78 long playing recordings in India.
Subsequent to her death, more women singers appeared in formerly all-male singing clubs. http://zanzibar.net/zanzibar/zanzibar_music_taarab
Example on CD anthology recording
- Echoes of Africa: Early Recordings (Wergo SM 1642 2) http://www.aquariusrecords.org/cat/internationalafrica3.html