Taarab is a kind of East African music , most popular in Tanzania and Kenya. It is descended from Islamic roots and uses instruments from all the cultures with a historical presence in East Africa, including East Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and the Middle East and Europe.
Egyptian bands, like the Ikhwani Safaa Musical Club , played a strong role in the evolution of taarab in the early 20th century. Popular success began in 1928 with the rise of the genre's first star, Siti bint Saad .
