The guardians of ukungwi—a practice that educates girls and women on sex, homemaking and marriage—are reimagining their approach to this East African tradition. Today, they face a dilemma: the risk of losing the cultural essence of ukungwi while seeking to monetize it for sustainability.
The Women Turning a Private Ritual Into a Public Business Read More »
Independent Curator Thaddeus Wamukoya on East Africa’s Evolving Art Scene, Tewasart Gallery and the Power of Patronage
Curating Change: Thaddeus Wamukoya on Art and Patronage in East Africa Read More »
More than two decades after its release, Lady Jaydee’s debut album still resonates—offering a window into Tanzanian pop, gender politics, and the sound of a generation coming into its own.
Tanzanian visual artist and curator Gadi Ramdhani’s month-long exhibition at the Alliance Française in Dar es Salaam, My Father’s Widow, is a meditation on death’s aftermath.
Gadi Ramadhani’s “My Father’s Widow” Solo Exhibition Review Read More »
In this conversation, Minna Salami shares further insight into her approach as a non-dualist feminist thinker and writer as seen in her newly published book; her anxieties on criticisms of African feminism; and the many artists that have influenced her work.
Minna Salami Is Inventing New Language in “Can Feminism Be African?” Read More »
In the middle of December, Maya was in the throes of preparation for a Jagermeister Masterclass and acoustic performance. In between phone calls with her team where she decidedly gave directions and received some in return, the young Kenyan star and I chatted about her project “What a Feeling”, career hopes and anxieties, and her love for Nairobi.
Maya Amolo: The Sweetest Girl from Nairobi Read More »
Owing to stifled freedom of speech coupled with minimal structural support, Tanzanian music artists are finding themselves without any political space beyond praising the ruling government.
The Political Dilemmas of Tanzania’s Music Artists Read More »
In Conversation with East African singer-songwriter Xenia Manasseh on the release of her sophomore album “Love/Hate Pt.2,” being a successful songwriter for other incredible artists, and the power of a magic white board.
Xenia Manasseh is Balancing The Scales Read More »
For decades, families in Tanzania have been demanding the return of their ancestors’ human remains from Germany. These ancestors, executed leaders of resistance efforts against German colonial rule, were exhumed from their graves and taken to Germany. Cece Mlay discusses co-producing a new documentary on how their descendants are seeking justice and closure today.
Filming the Prolonged Pain of Colonial Violence- Interview with Filmmaker Cece Mlay Read More »
Abi Daré and I speak virtually shortly after the publishing of And So I Roar and she lets me into the thought and research that went into the choices she makes in the novel. She delves into what it was like to write a sequel, she unpacks the standout themes including motherhood and climate justice, and she reflects on loss and grief both in the novel and in her own life and the symbiosis between the two. Towards the end we speak briefly about her writing routine, what her favourite authors do really well and what books she is currently enjoying.
Abi Daré is back with “And So I Roar” Read More »
Abdulrazak Gurnah, the Zanzibari-born 2021 Nobel Literature laureate’s grand homecoming was punctuated by the translation of his masterpiece, Paradise, into Kiswahili. His publisher, Mkuki Bgoya, speaks about its significance in the Swahili canon.
“There’s a lot of Tanzania’s history and culture that cannot be depicted through realism, like our true emotions about our history and culture. If you are only painting things that you can see, you miss out on a lot of our culture that can’t be physically seen” – Sabi John
Interview with Tanzanian artist Sabi John Kitaule Read More »
For her debut project, Nice, Amindi didn’t want to write about romantic love. “You know the Bechdel test? I wanted my project to pass the Bechdel test.” The Inglewood native had just gotten out of a relationship and she wanted to challenge herself to find another way to cope, outside of what she already knew would come easy for her. “I’m so inclined to writing love songs, I’m a libra,” she says matter of factly. So instead, Amindi wrote about all other kinds of love; love in friendship, love of self, even love of money, anything but love of men.
Amindi, the Luvr Girl Read More »
Tanzania is for the first time participating in the 60th edition of the prestigious Venice Biennale, one of the longest-running and most renowned international art exhibitions. Running from April to November, this year’s edition is curated by Adriano Pedrosa under the theme, ‘Foreigners Everywhere.’ Tanzania’s pavilion, curated by Enrico Bittoto, explores the theme, “A Flight in Reverse Mirrors (The Discovery of the Other)” and delves into four significant eras of Tanzania’s history, from the 19th century to the early 21st century.
Tanzania makes historic debut at the 60th Venice Art Biennale Read More »
In HEIS, the rave lord invites us back into the world he built at his O2 show. The symbol of the bat shows up in the album cover of his sophomore album. With a wilder, more imposing production, Rema stakes his claim in the world of afrobeats, “No more big three, there’s now a big four,” he announces in the single ‘HEHEHE.’
Rema the Rave Lord Comes to Life in “HEIS” Read More »