She's the grand old lady of Zanzibar music, but still possessing a remarkably flexible voice. One of the leading singers of taarab, the Arab music influenced style that's important in the country, you can hear North Africa not only in her voice, but also in the music that frames it -- they way the violins soar, for instance. It's impossible not to think of divas like Um Kalthum when you listen to Bi Kidude, the way she can ululate and emote with just the slightest inflections. Yet that's not the sum of its parts; there are also strong touches of east Africa, which is inevitable. Considering this is all relatively recent material, recorded in the last decade, she's still got the power. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide
Credits
Ali Hassan (Arranger), Ali Hassan (Choir, Chorus), Ali Hassan (Ud), Adam Skeaping (Engineer), Adam Skeaping (Post Production), Seif Salim Saleh (Choir, Chorus), Seif Salim Saleh (Ud), Henri Lecomte (Translation), Michael Kurzawa (Engineer), Michael Kurzawa (Post Production), Alfons Steffens (Engineer), Alfons Steffens (Post Production), Jack Garnier (Design), Bi Kidude (Vocals), Werner Graebner (Engineer), Werner Graebner (Editing), Werner Graebner (Photography), Werner Graebner (Post Production), Werner Graebner (Production Executive), Werner Graebner (Series Editor), Nihifadhi Abdallah (Choir, Chorus), Khamis Shehe (Violin), Makame Faki (Arranger), Makame Faki (?), Fatma Juma (Choir, Chorus), Mgeni Khamis (Choir, Chorus), Juma Machano (Bongos), Juma Machano (Rika), Maulidi Mohamed (Dumbek), Maulidi Mohamed (Choir, Chorus), Saada Mohamed (Choir, Chorus), Saada Mohamed (Rika), Said Mwinyi (Accordion), Said Nassor (Violin), Said Nassor (Arranger), Said Nassor (Ud), Taimur Rukun (Accordion), Mohammed Ilyas (Arranger), Mohammed Ilyas (Keyboards), Mohammed Ilyas (Choir, Chorus), Abdulaziz Yusuf (Guitar), Abdulaziz Yusuf (Choir, Chorus), Rajab Suleiman (Arranger), Rajab Suleiman (Choir, Chorus), Rajab Suleiman (Qanoun), Moza Sleyam (Choir, Chorus), Juma Said (Bass), Mohamed Othman (Violin), Mohamed Othman (Choir, Chorus), Asha Mwalim (Choir, Chorus), Mohamed Issa Matona (Cello), Mohamed Issa Matona (Choir, Chorus), Mohamed Issa Matona (Nai), Machano Matano (Bongos), Machano Matano (Rika), Rashid Makame (Violin), Ibrahim Khatib (Arranger), Ibrahim Khatib (Ud), Ramadhan Khamis (Violin), Sadiq Juma (Accordion), Sadiq Juma (Choir, Chorus), Kesi Juma (Violin), Saada Himid (Choir, Chorus), Bi Nasra Mohamed Hillal (Leader), Fatma Hamadi (Choir, Chorus), Saada Hamad (Choir, Chorus), Mohamed Issa Haj (Arranger), Maulidi Haj (Accordion), Maulidi Haj (Keyboards), Foum Faki (Bongos), Adel Dabo (Arranger), Adel Dabo (Guitar (Bass)), Muhsin Aliy (Dumbek), Muhsin Aliy (Choir, Chorus), Mwanakhamis Mussa Rehema Ali (Choir, Chorus)
