Cuban Marimba Band

The Cuban Marimba Band (previously known as La Paloma) was an influential Tanzanian big band from the city of Morogoro. It was founded in 1948 by Salim Abdullah, who had previously created another band called Morogoro Jazz Band (which, somewhat ironically, later became Cuban Marimba's main rival).Salum Abdallah was a prolific songwriter and musician. He was a "chotara" i.e. a person of mixed races. His band's name speaks volumes on the influence of Cuban music in the 40s and 50s in East Africa. He played guitar and mandolin. The main themes of his music were, the joy and pain of love, life wisdom, the good and evil of man kind and even politics. For about twenty years, until Abdullah's sudden death in a car accident in 1965, Cuban Marimba was one of the most popular muziki wa dansi (dance music) bands in Tanzania. One of his popular tunes is Mkono wa Idd, which is usually played in the radio during Idd festivities. Just before his death, he released a twist tune, a departure from his suave rumba style," Hapo zamani sana" about the horrible colonial days in South Africa. Then in another, he paid tribute to Tanzanian women, "Wanawake wa Tanzania wazuri sana." Abdullah was replaced by Juma Kilaza, but the band declined.

Contents

• Juma kilaza cuban marimba mwamvita
• Cuban marimba band naumiya
• Partial discography
• Songs
• References