Dhow Countries Music Academy (DCMA)

Dhow Countries Music Academy is the only music school in Zanzibar.

It preserves and promotes music heritage of Zanzibar in the dhow region, which includes countries along the shores of the Indian Ocean and the Arab Gulf such as Zanzibar, Comorros, Oman, Kuwait, Iran, U.A.E and India. Particular emphasis is being placed on teaching traditional music styles, such as taarab, kidumbak and ngoma. The DCMA is proud to be the guardians of a living cultural heritage and proud to keep the musical heritage of Zanzibar and the „dhow region”.

Dhow Countries Music Academy took its name from traditional sailing vessels, invented by Arabs, used in the Indian Ocean region. The Arabian Peninsula has a rich maritime history of trade and cultural exchange with East African coast. Dhows have been used in the region for centuries, and were key in developing trade industries as well as cultural exchanges. DCMA is a center for the teaching and performance of music traditions that travelled with the boats from Middle East to Africa.