Samba
Although samba exists throughout Brazil – especially in the states of Bahia, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo – in the form of various popular rhythms and dances that originated from the regional batuque of the eastern Brazilian state of Bahia, a music form from Cape Verde, samba is frequently identified as a musical expression of urban Rio de Janeiro, where it developed during the first years of the 20th century. Early styles of samba - and specifically samba de roda - are traced back to the Recôncavo region of Bahia during the 17th century, and the informal dancing following a candomblé ceremony. It was in Rio de Janeiro that the dance practiced by former slaves who migrated from Bahia came into contact with and incorporated other genres played in the city (such as the polka, the maxixe, the lundu, and the xote), acquiring a completely unique character and creating the "samba carioca urbana" (samba school) and "carnavalesco" (Carnaval school director). Samba schools are large organizations of up to 5,000 people which compete annually in the Carnival with thematic floats, elaborate costumes, and original music.
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.