Siti binti Saad
| Siti binti Saad | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1880 Fumba |
| Died | August 1950 (aged 69–70) |
| Genres | Taraab |
| Labels | Columbia Records |
| Associated acts | Nadi Ikhwani Safa |
Siti binti Saad (1880–1950) was a pioneering artist in the taraab genre of east African music. In an era in which male singers predominated, she was a pioneer as a woman singer in the genre: she was the first woman in East Africa to record her music in an album. In contrast to previous singers who sang in Arabic, she sang in Swahili. She sang in cities of the coast of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
The peak of her career was from 1928 to her death in 1950, during which she recorded over 150 gramophone records in India.
Subsequent to her death, more women singers appeared in formerly all-male singing clubs.
Siti binti Saad was born in the village of Fumba, Zanzibar in 1880. She was given the name of 'Mtumwa' (slave) because she was born during the Arab enslaving period.
Her father was Saadi, from the Nyamwezi tribe from Tabora, and her mother was from the Zigua tribe from Tanga; both were born in Zanzibar to very poor families and were engaged in agricultural activities and pottery manufacture that Siti herself learned and mastered well.
As the Swahili say "being born poor isn't dying poor". Sita was blessed with the special gift of singing. In her early life, she used singing to sell her mother's pottery: her singing voice could travel a distance of many miles, signalling that Mtumwa's pottery was being sold that day. Siti was said to have the lungs with great strength like a lion's.
Since at that time education for female children wasn't taken seriously, Siti wasn't able go to school nor attend Koranic studies. So she decided to move to the city to better her life. She had the fortune to meet a member of the taarab group Nadi Ikhwani Safa named Ali Muhsin. At that time, Nadi Ikhwani Safa was the only taarab group founded by Sultan Barghash bin Said of Zanzibar, who loved comfort and luxury. It was an all-male group, as it was seen as indecent for women to join musical groups. Lord Muhsin volunteered to teach Siti to sing, accompanying musical instruments and Arabic. He then introduced her to the other members of Nadi Ikhwani Safa who without hesitation began to organize various performances for her in the community. They received many invitations, especially from the Sultan and other rich Arabs, and to perform at various weddings and other celebrations.
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