Khadija Kopa, the best-known singer in TOT Taarab, sings her song “Kinyang’unya” (Old Hag). Kopa, who began her career in 1990 with Culture Musical Club of Zanzibar, has become one of the most celebrated modern taarab singers in Tanzania. As in other taarab performances, the line of singers sitting behind Kopa plays an important role in the song by allowing Kopa to lower the microphone, act out the song, and entertain the audience with her gestures during the chorus.

During the video, watch the woman in the orange shirt as she moves back and forth across the stage. When she nears Khadija Kopa, she tips her. As she crosses back, she sings the lyrics to the song. Tipping provides a means for the audience member to both thank Kopa for the song, and also signal to the audience that the song reflects how she feels about someone or some issue. 

Lyrics for  “Kinyang’unya” (Old Hag)

Kinyang’unya usitake ya watu kinyang’unya

Kinyang’unya yako yanakushinda kinyang’unya

Kinyang’unya usitake ya watu kinyang’unya

Kinyang’unya kumbe hujaboya si bure umerogwa- 

Nasikia wewe nasikia nasikia wewe wajitapa

Watu ukiwajulisha wewe ukiwajulisha

Eti n’nakuogopa nakuogopa wataka kunikomesha - 

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You old hag, imitate not what others do, you old hag

You old hag, you can’t even manage your own affairs, you old hag

You old hag, imitate not what others do, you old hag

You old hag, you haven’t yet exhausted what you are capable of doing, it isn’t by chance, you must be possessed.

I hear you, I hear, I hear you stirring yourself up

You go about informing people, yes, you inform them

That I am afraid, afraid of you, since you want to thwart me.