Bi Kidude

Tanzanian singer (c. 1910– 2013)

Ngoma music

InstrumentsVocals • Ngoma drumsLabels

Independent

Musical artist

Fatuma binti Baraka (in Arabic: فاطمة بنت بركة) (c. 1910 – 17 April 2013),^[1]^[2] popularly known as Bi Kidude, was a Zanzibari-born Tanzanian Taarab singer. She has been called the "queen of Taarab and Unyago music" and was inspired by Siti binti Saad.^[3] Born in the village of Kitumba in modern-day Kati District of Unguja South Region and raised the village of Mfagimaringo, Bi Kidude was the daughter of a coconut seller in colonial Zanzibar. Bi Kidude's exact date of birth is unknown and much of her life story is uncorroborated, but she was believed to be the oldest touring singer in the world before her death. In 2005, Bi Kidude received the WOMEX award for her contribution to music and culture in Zanzibar. She was the subject of two documentaries by film maker Andrew Jones.

Awards and nominations

Honours

Order		Country	Year
	Medal for Arts and Sports	Tanzania	2012

Awards

2005: WOMEX award

Nominations

2011 Tanzania Music Awards - Best Collaboration & Best Traditional Song ('Ahmada' with Offside trick)

Popular culture

Bangladesh

In the south Asian country of Bangladesh, a popular singer and influencer named Bangla Hero Alom sang Bi Kidude's song "Muhogo wa jang'ombe" in a video titled Uganda song, gaining her notoriety in the country.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b BBC Africa
^ BBC Swahili
^ Rachel Hamada (17 April 2013). "Lover of life". Mambo magazine. Archived from the original on 2015-10-25.

External links

Bi Kidude Honored with World Music Award
The Venerable Queen of Taarab and Unyago Archived 2018-07-16 at the Wayback Machine
As Old As My Tongue: the myth and life of Bi Kidude documentary film on Bi Kidude.
Biographic Notes
Some recordings (An interview)