The Comoros is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean , mostly an independent nation but also including the French territory of Mayotte . It is historically linked to both East Africa and France , and now has a strong Malagasy influence. Zanzibar 's taarab music, however, remains the most influential genre on the islands, and a Comorian version called twarab is popular. Leading twarab bands include Sambeco and Belle Lumiere, as well as singers including Chamsia Sagaf and Mohammed Hassan.

Instruments [ edit ]

Comorian instruments include the 'oud and violin , the most frequent accompaniment for twarab, as well as gabusi (a type of lute ) and ndzendze (a box zither), and the msondo drum. Sega music from nearby Mauritius and Reunion is also popular. The primitive oboe , the ndzumara , is now nearly extinct.

Musicians [ edit ]

Modern musicians include Abou Chihabi, who composed the Comorian national anthem and who is known for his reggae -tinged pan-African variety music, reggae/ zouk / soukous fusionists like Maalesh and Salim Ali Amir, Nawal , Ali Said Achimo who resides in Paris, Diho , singer-songwriters and instrumentalists.

See also [ edit ]

• Abdou Baco

References [ edit ]

• Ewens, Graeme and Werner Graebner. "A Lightness of Touch". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East , pp 505?508. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN   1-85828-636-0

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