Core members were Ben Mandelson (under the name Hijaz Mustapha) plus Colin Deep (beneath the name Sabah Habas Mustapha), approximately which orbited other Mustaphas, all hypothetical to be the nephews of Uncle Patrel Mustapha. In truth though the creation of the band began in 1982 at what time guitarist and musicologist Ben Mandelson, also known as Hijaz Mustapha, and Uncle Patrel, too known as Lu Edmonds, started playing together, along by means of Patrel's other "nephews", namely Houzam, Isfa'ani, Oussack plus Niaveti III. Before Earth music became a genre, they were already playing musical styles as of all around the globe.

According to band members the primary concert was detained in a London restaurant that year. By after that Oussack had left the group, but bassist Sabah Habas Mustapha, who might in fact be Colin Bass, plus accordionist Kemo Mustapha had joined. Their second book, Spirit of Uncle, was released in 1989 and showed Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Irish plus even Latin American power. Soup of the Century, released in 1990, was their the majority acclaimed achievement however. Daoudi connected throughout the footage plus performed woodwinds.

The group would not be able to live on intended for long though, primarily due to a be short of of money to stay such a big band together. By the end of the year the band was no longer live jointly. Sabah Habas pursued a solo career, releasing albums as Colin Bass, or performing with his group Camel as well as the Jugala Allstars from Indonesia, and Hijaz became a producer. The two were featured in an album from Zimbabwean performer Stella Chiweshe.

Oussack (Beam Cooper) connected the Oysterband beneath the name Chopper. Another album was free in 1997 containing live performances, and Sabas Habas and Hijaz came together again in 2001 to pick songs to include in their last exist album, Play Musty intended for Me. Throughout the height of their fame, their live concerts were a delightful mix of comedy, mystery plus superb music played by musicians who had a deep understanding and appreciation of the music and the cultures as of which that music arose. The audiences at these concerts were invited to bring mature cheeses, which the Mustaphas would attempt to identify on stage. allmusic.