DJ Cool Para shows Zanzibar (by Bram Vergeer) It can be said that Cool Para is the founder of what is now called Zenji Flava, the reaction of the Zanzibar music scene on the success of Bongo Flava on Tanzania mainland. Early nineties Cool Para started releasing tracks and performing on Zanzibar. He calls his style Taarap, a mixture of the old Zanzibar music Taarab and modern rap. In this film he talks about his lyrics, the history of Zanzibar music and the political situation on the island. Check out a video (shot partly in Amsterdam yes), a live show and a visit to his distributor on the island.

The're something magical in this ill-mixed combination of tenor perfection, strange sample sources, club vibes and bargashia hats.