Zanzibar, the spice Island, is where Africa meets the Arab world and this is reflected in the string-laden music called Taarab. Mohamed Ilyas is the last of a long line of great singers from Zanzibar, able to entrance audiences with his rich, expressive voice. This is the record that will put Zanzibar on the map, a full-blown production recorded at the magnificent Sauti za Zanzibar studio by the 16 piece Noyota Zameremeta Orchestra of Zanzibar. A musical and lyrical storm, incorporating the strong percussive elements of the African influence with the powerful strings from the Egyptian roots of the music and combining both cultures in the spontaneous, relaxed, melodic vocals.