The Dhow Countries Music Academy (DCMA) is the first and only music school in Zanzibar, Tanzania, located in Old Customs House in Stone Town. The Academy promotes and preserves music heritage of the "Dhow Region" which include countries along the shores of the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. Particular emphasis is being placed on teaching traditional music styles, such as Taarab, Kidumbaki or Ngoma. "In recent years the Music Academy of the Tanzanian island has become an important meeting center of the dynamic local cultural scene." Aims The Academy was established in 2002 and throughout the years it had more than 1500 students. DCMA is one of the most prominent ambassadors of taarab music in the world. It has gained an ever-increasing international reputation for teaching traditional music. In 2007, Hildegard Kiel, DCMA's founding director was co-presented with the BBC World Music Award, acknowledging “her enormous contribution to revitalizing both Zanzibar’s musical heritage and the world music scene globally ”. In October 2010 DCMA won Roskilde World Music Awards for teaching traditional music. In training the students it ensures the continuation, knowledge, and legacy of a unique musical cultural heritage. Dhow Countries Music Academy took its name from traditional sailing vessels, dhows, invented by Arabs, used in the Indian Ocean region. The Arabian Peninsula has a rich maritime history of trade and cultural exchange with East African coast. Dhows have been used in the region for centuries, and were key in developing thriving fishing, pearl diving and trade industries as well as cultural exchanges. DCMA is a major center for the teaching and performance of music traditions that travelled with the boats from Middle East to Africa through the Indian Ocean. The mission of the Dhow Countries Music Academy is to play a key role in strengthening the music industry of Zanzibar and "Dhow Region" by researching, preserving, training, promoting and developing the musical heritage of Zanzibar and the „Dhow Countries“, both regionally and internationally. Before DCMA was established, traditional music in Zanzibar was close to be forgotten. There were only a couple of traditional taarab groups, and very few young people willing to keep the heritage. But since DCMA started its mission the situation has changed. Music education The curriculum of DCMA offers a quality education from beginning to highly advanced levels. Certificate and diploma courses include courses in the music theory of the Swahili people and specifically