Siti Amina

Siti Amina is a prominent Tanzanian singer-songwriter, oud player, vocal coach, and women's rights advocate from Zanzibar. She is best known as the lead singer of Siti and the Band and for her unique musical style that fuses traditional Taarab music with modern African and urban genres. Siti Amina blends the rich musical roots of Zanzibar traditional Taarab with contemporary beats. She formally trained at the Dhow Countries Music Academy (DCMA) in Stone Town, where she now serves as an established vocal coach. Her artistry is deeply intertwined with social consciousness, hope, and female empowerment. She frequently uses her platform to challenge societal norms and inspire upcoming generations of women. Siti Amina has released a string of impactful singles, including "Ndo Basi" (2024), "Jiamini" (2025), "Mama Samia" and "Dr. Mwinyi (Mitano tena)" (2025), and "Tanzanite Lady" (2024). Siti Amina starred in the critically acclaimed Tanzanian film Tug of War (Vuta N'Kuvute) in 2021. She played a principal role as Mwajuma, a generous and independent Zanzibari woman who becomes a close friend and confidante to the runaway bride, Yasmin. Her performance was highly notable because it beautifully merged her acting and musical talents. In the film, her character performs traditional Taarab songs by legendary Zanzibari icons like Siti Binti Saad and Bi Kidude, using her sonorous voice as a form of artistic and political protest within the narrative. Tug of War, directed by Amil Shivji, made history as the first Tanzanian film to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and was selected as Tanzania's official entry for the Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards.