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Taarab legend Bi Kidude ‘helplessly’ sick in Zanzibar

THE prestigious WOMEX award winner Fatuma binti Baraka aka Bi. Kidude, most famous for Taarab music, is sick, her nephew Baraka said on Monday.

Baraka informed  the press that Bi Kidude has remained in bed for almost one-month suffering from “different complications including urinary and bladder disorders and aging.” 

“Kidude has been famous both at home (Zanzibar) and internationally, but unfortunately she lives in unfavourable environment. She does not even have a permanent doctor to look after her health,” Baraka lamented.
 
Lying helplessly in her bed, in unfinished small house at Kihinani village from Zanzibar town, Bi Kidude says, “I am recovering and hope to be back on stage soon.”
 
Bi Kidude has been widely used in social and commercial adverts, performed in annual festivals (mainly Sauti za Busara and Dhow countries film festivals) and has also been travelled abroad for performances, but since she fell sick, no leader and organizers have visited her!

Bi. Kidude is a Zanzibari, considered undisputed queen of Taarab and Unyago music, her exact date of birth is unknown, much of her life story is uncorroborated, giving her an almost mythical status. She is estimated to be above 90 years of age. 

In 2005 Bi Kidude received the prestigious WOMEX award for her outstanding contribution to music (in Arabic and Swahili) and culture in Zanzibar.