" In March 1928 the Indian branch of the Gramophone Company sent an engineer to Mombasa to record three Swahili artists: Maalim Shaban. Subeti Ambar and the massievely Important Shahir Sitti Binti Saad.

Between them they produced 62 songs. 56 of which were coupled onto 78s and issued in August of that same year. Twelwe months after the initial recording session had been held, the company was back again again, making a further 102 recordings that would produce 48 new double-sided records for the catalogue. They had good reason to return. The first session had generated sales of over 23.000 records, earning the company a gross profit in excess of 6.000. The second session, garnering more songs by Shaban and Saad as well as new artists, produced even more spectacular results; over 40,000 78s, pressed in India and shipped out to dealers across the territory, had sold within a six month period."\