Zanzibar Vice President visits sick Queen of Taarab

Zanzibar Vice President Seif Sharif Hamad has visited to comfort the prestigious WOMEX award winner, Fatuma binti Baraka, aka Bi Kidude, who has been sick for several weeks sparking rumours that the most famous Taarab singer is dead.“I thank God; my health has been improving and currently I can manage to perform light duties,” said Bi Kidude as she condemned people spreading rumours that she is dead.“My family members have been getting phone calls, and visitors trying to clarify the unfounded rumours. I am still okay, and hope to recover completely. I thank you Maalim Seif for coming to give a hand of comfort.” Hamad responded by praying for Bi Kidude, promising a close follow-up of her health, and to get necessary help from his medical doctor. Last week, Bi Kidude’s nephew Baraka confirmed that the musician has been sick in bed for several weeks with no leader and her promoters visiting her.“Kidude is famous both at home (Zanzibar) and internationally, but remains poor with little care from managers, who frequently take her for shows. She does not have a permanent doctor to look after her health,” Baraka lamented.Visibly lying helplessly in her bed last week, in unfinished small house at Kihinani suburb, about 10 kilometres from Zanzibar Stone Town, Bi Kidude battled to make her voice heard by trying to sing. Bi Kidude is widely used in social and commercial adverts in local televisions and radio stations, but since she fell sick, no leader and organizers had visited her!She performs in annual Zanzibar festivals, Sauti za Busara and Dhow countries film festival. Bi Kidude estimated to be above 90 years of age is a Zanzibari, considered undisputed queen of Taarab and Unyago music.WOMEX (or World Music Expo), is an international world music support and development project based in Berlin, whose main event is an exposition held annually in different locations throughout Europe. Tanzania Daily News

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Zanzibar Vice President visits sick Queen of Taarab