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This mode of sufi dance came to zanzibar via the COMORES, but originated from YEMEN, very little is known about it but sometimes (as in Kiluwa dance) the are overtaken by the spirit and go in a trance, the costumes are originally KANZU and KOFIA (a long white tunic and a scalp hat) 10 years ago when the designer FAROUK ABDILLAH came to Zanzibar he introduced the present costumes and improve the choreagraphy.

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Umbrella dance was created by the local as a protest against the royals, as during the reign of the same Sultan ,africans were forbidden wear the same clothes as members of the royals, it was a long tunic and tight trousers,also the use of umbrellas during the dry season wa exclusively for royals, to mock the ruling family, the locals created the more elaborate costume and add a head dress with gold ornaments and created a dance for the royal family, after seeing the first performance the Sultan decided it should be performed once a year only, on his birthday,it was only in the 1930's it was perfomed to the public, the name of the dance is known as MWANA WA NDEGE ( bird's child).

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Music and creation of zanzibar identity. Music and entertainment was created in Zanzibar during the reign of the third Sultan of Zanzibar SEYYID BARGHASH (1870-88) a sultan widely known for his opulent and luxurious court life, Bargash spent more than ten years in exile,travelling , India,Arabia and Europe, when he returned he introduce Taarab music, and the first taarab music was recorded in 1928 in India with Colombia records, with village girl called MTUMWA, who later became a legend and change her name to SITI bit SAAD. These are the first pictures of SITI and her group taken in India.

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Kiluwa dancers

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Biography Farouque Abdela

Farouk comes from a family of tailors and Embroideres, it was his great grand father who was known for embroidery on men's wedding robes in the Comores.

Years later, when the family moved to Zanzibar, Farouk's father started his tailoring business.

After the revolution in Zanzibar, some of Farouk's family moved to England where Farouk studied fashion in London.
In the 1990's, his designs became noticed by the late HRH Princess DIANA.
After that, he was asked to design costumes for Films, Television and Theater.

 

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