TİKA Establishes International Recording Studio in Zanzibar

Zanzibar’s rich musical heritage is being preserved and promoted through a project implemented by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA). The new international-standard recording studio at the Dhow Countries Music Academy (DCMA) will both safeguard traditional taarab music and provide modern music production training to young people.

Founded in 2002, DCMA is one of the most important institutions representing taarab music, which draws from the musical traditions of Africa, North Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. It is also the only non-profit music school in Zanzibar. To date, the academy has trained more than 1,500 students and plays a key role in passing Zanzibar’s living oral heritage on to future generations.

The studio, established by TİKA, has been equipped with a full professional setup, including a digital sound mixer, professional microphone sets, a sound-insulated booth and dedicated software. This will allow students to gain practical skills in contemporary music production, while the academy records Zanzibar’s cultural memory by digitally preserving works that have never before been recorded.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, TİKA’s Coordinator in Dar es Salaam, Filiz Şahinci, emphasized that the project is more than just an investment in technical infrastructure:

“This studio will provide a safe educational space for children and young people while also serving to preserve and promote taarab music, one of Zanzibar’s most valuable cultural heritages. Our project directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by offering quality educational opportunities for young people, supporting cultural industries, safeguarding intangible heritage and strengthening inter-institutional cooperation. Moreover, taarab music holds a unique place within UNESCO’s framework for the preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Therefore, our project creates lasting value at both the local and global levels.”

The newly established studio will be open not only to DCMA students but also to the Zanzibar Ministry of Culture and other relevant institutions.