Ruins of Mtoni Palace

Princess Salme was a daughter of the Sultan of Zanzibar and Oman, who resided in Mtoni Palace in Zanzibar. She fell in love with a German tradesman and followed him to Hamburg, abandoning her life at court, converting to Christianity and taking on the name Emily Ruete. Later she wrote an autobiography entitled “Memoirs of an Arabian Princess from Zanzibar” – a precious insight into a woman’s life at the Sultan’s court.

The remnants of Mtoni Palace give an idea of this live – however the ruins need some restauration work and archeological research to gain more knowledge and preserve the edifice for the future.

Windhund carry their instruments to Mtoni Palace

Windhund and the Zumari horn players Sekembuke & Siga from Zanzibar were invited to play a concert in this unique setting, incorporating references to Princess Salme by Anne Bennent’s recital of passages from the Memoirs. Proceeds of the evening went to the restauration and preservation of the Palace.

Audience at Mtoni Palace, 4th July 2010

The concert, well-attended by some 70 guests, started right after the Muezzin’s evening prayer with an improvisation by Karl Ritter (guitar), Otto Lechner (accordion) and Melissa Coleman (cello). Actress Anne Bennent read from the Memoirs in english language.

Anne Bennent

The second half of the concert – after a traditional coffee ceremony with cardamom flavoured coffee served with various sweets – started with a captivating cello solo by Melissa Coleman and continued with Anne’s beautiful performance of Arthur Rimbaud’s poem ‘The Drunken Boat’, accompanied by Karl Ritter on the guitar. Otto Lechner came in with an accordion solo, touching, sensitive and a wee bit sentimental too.

Sekembuke, Siga, Karl Ritter, Otto Lechner, Melissa Coleman (from left)

mtoni_excerpt (mp3, 45 seconds)

Sekembuke & Siga entered with their Zumari horns from the back corridors of the Palace, making their way onto the stage.  As Windhund have experienced before, at concerts and private sessions in Austria, each time they meet the Zumaris turns out differently. At Mtoni Palace, the Zumaris stepped back a little bit, leaving more space for improvisation and solos of the less strong instruments.

Right after the concert, Otto Lechner commented on the reunion with Sekembuke & Siga, clearly happy with the outcome of the concert:

Otto Lechner’s comment (mp3, 40 seconds, in German language)

And one of Zanzibar’s most acclaimed musicians, Mohammed Issa Haji (aka Matona) made some very positive remarks on the concert evening, which he found to be an interesting approach between two musical universes, yet to be explored further in the next couple of days…

Matona’s comment (mp3, 50 seconds, English)