Prof Mohamed Khamis Juma Bhalo
Zein L’Abidin (1939-2020)
Zein l’Abdin Ahmed Alamoody was born in Lamu island in 1939 at a time when Lamu as a centre of Islamic learning, trade and art was at a decline. Lamu was famous for exporting boriti (mangrove poles). Zein’s father and uncle were both musicians and the latter, Seyyid Ali Basakuta was a well-known ‘ud player. […]
The ‘Ud
The ‘Ud/Oud (also spelled ‘Ud) is one of the most popular instruments in Arabic music. Its name means “a thin strip of wood” in Arabic, and this refers to the strips of wood used in making its pear-shaped body. The neck of the oud is short in comparison to its body and has no frets. […]