Kidumbaki orkidumbak is aZanzibari musical genre. It is closely related totaarab (withArab- andIndian-influenced music and singing inSwahili) but it is played by smaller ensembles. The typical kidumbaki band comprises afiddle, asanduku (a kind ofwashtub bass), abass, and two "kidumbak"drums. Traditionalpercussions such ascherewas[1] are sometimes used as well.
Kidumbaki is sometimes calledkitaarab, loosely translatable as "little taarab" (the particleki-, in Swahili, is used fordiminutives). It is disputed, anyway, whether kidumbaki is to be regarded as a derivative of taarab or the other way round. Some of the founders of taarab, such asSiti binti Saad, did in fact span across the two genres. Also, taarab ensembles in the early 20th century were usually much smaller than they are today, and more like modern "kidumbaki" ensembles.
Makame Faki of musical ensembleSina Chuki Kidumbak is one of today's most popular kidumbaki singers.[2]
