Introduction
Walk into any Afro-Indian cultural night in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, or Kampala and you might hear the hypnotic drone of a tanpura followed by a soaring alaap. Indian classical music—especially its ragas—has found a new, enthusiastic home in Africa.

What Makes a Raga Timeless?
A raga is more than a scale; it is a musical mood meticulously designed to evoke emotion, or rasa. Morning ragas such as Bhairav instil serenity, while evening ragas like Yaman kindle romance. Listeners in Lagos or Addis Ababa may not speak Hindi, but they feel every note because emotion is universal.

African Audiences and Shared Heritage
East Africa has long embraced Indian cultural influences, dating back to centuries-old trade across the Indian Ocean. Today, festivals like Nairobi’s “Samosa Fest” or Tanzania’s “Festival of the Dhow Countries” programme classical concerts because ragas offer authenticity in a fast-paced digital world.

How Thaat Bhairavi Keeps the Tradition Alive
Our ensemble presents ragas with storytelling, translating their moods into English and Swahili so that every listener understands the journey. We include interactive segments—asking audiences to clap taal or repeat a simple refrain—bridging performer and listener.

Conclusion
Whether performed in a grand concert hall in Johannesburg or an intimate baithak in Mombasa, ragas remain relevant because they speak the oldest language on earth: emotion. And that language knows no borders.