Artists

Black Roots Cultural Group has been immersed in the islands' arts scene for many years. Apart from their regular drama plays broadcast on TV Zanzibar, the group is reinterpreting local traditional dances. The potent messages they convey through their music and drama reach all levels of society read more

From an early age, Mary Anibal performed on all kinds of stages. She started her professional career in 2016 as a mbira session musician and her moment of reckoning came in 2017 when she performed at the Harare International Festival Of Arts (HIFA) with Soa Roy, a group from Madagascar, read more

Rashid Amin Abdallah aka Rico Single was born in Kikuu village, on Pemba island. He started music at primary school, as part of the school’s traditional dance group.

In 2001 together with friends, Rico Single created Swahili Arts Group which had more than 40 young members, performing traditional dances, read more

Shailja, pronounced Shell-jah, Patel is an Asian African poet and spoken-word theatre artist. She is currently performing a one-woman show, Migritude, which has received a Creation Fund Award from the National Performance Network. Excerpts from Migritude have aired on National Public Radio in the US, and the BBC in the read more

The "Dhow Crossing" CD is a result of a three-year collaboration between students and teachers of Dhow Countries Music Academy (DCMA Zanzibar) and Agder University College (Norway). The musical crossover project was part of a NORAD funded programme. Recordings and concerts evolved through exchange visits between both institutions and countries. read more

The Mkota Spirit Dancers are a traditional Zanzibari dance troupe from southern Pemba, widely described as the most energetic performers in Zanzibar. Since 1985 they have wowed audiences throughout the archipelago with their repertoire of rare dances, which include gonga, boso, kyaso, and the transfixing possession dance known read more