Emerson's Zanzibar Foundation

Flashback 🎶
May, we’re revisiting highlights from last year’s music support 🎤
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This week: celebrating our winner, Tarajazz a truly standout act. They won suited assistance, what that means will be shown soon! 👀
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We’re also incredibly grateful to all the talented artists who took part in the auditions and made the journey so special 💛
Stay tuned as we share more about Tarajazz [2/4] 🔜
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Flashback Time!🎶
This May, we’re looking back at some of the standout moments from last year’s music support initiatives🎸
This week, we’re spotlighting the incredible jury behind the 2025 Emerson Zanzibar Music Award — the minds who made it all possible. Without their expertise and dedication, there would be no competition! 🏆
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Stay with us as we share more from this journey [1/4].
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Special thanks to our head of jury John Kitime 🙌 (John Kitime)
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Become a member of the Emerson's Zanzibar Foundation, to support the Zanzibar arts & culture!❤️

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Photo by: Markus Meissl

Join us for the Caine Prize event at Emerson Spice on Thursday, 23rd of April, starting at 16:00! 📚
This special evening will feature engaging conversations, readings, and a chance to connect in a beautiful setting.
📍 The Secret Garden, Emerson Spice Hotel, Zanzibar
🗓 Thursday, 23 April, 16:00
In collaboration with ZRLS, Emerson Zanzibar Foundation and Emerson Spice Secret Garden.
We look forward to sharing this moment with you✨

We are thrilled to welcome you to an open studio exhibition of Jan van Esch’s Ghabh - Nipe Nikupe, that explores the rich narratives embedded in textiles.

🕙 *Exhibition Dates:* February 12 - April 9, 2026
📍 *Location:* Emerson Foundation Gallery, 236 Hurumzi Street, Stonetown
🕔 *Opening Hours:* Tuesday - Sunday, 10 AM - 6 PM

In this thought-provoking exhibition, Jan van Esch transforms abandoned clothing into a powerful commentary on culture, identity, and the textile waste crisis. By scavenging garments from Amsterdam, Berlin, and Dar es Salaam, Jan highlights how clothing can serve as a communicative system bridging cultural divides through visual language.

The journey of clothing, from cherished garment to discarded waste reveals complex layers of meaning. Jan’s patchworks and intricate drawings celebrate these fragments, bringing new life and story to what we wear and waste. Through his art, he invites us to move beyond monologue to dialogue, questioning how we engage with textiles in our daily lives.

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with Jan’s compelling installations and join the conversation about the global implications of our fashion choices. We look forward to welcoming you to this vibrant exhibition!

With thanks to and Emerson on Hurumzi for supporting this exhibition

📸✨ *Be sure to follow us for sneak peeks and highlights as we countdown to the opening!*

Join Us for the Opening of “Ghabh - Nipe Nikupe”

👉 Save the date! February 12th, your chance to see art that speaks volumes!

We are thrilled to announce the opening of Jan van Esch’s Ghabh - Nipe Nikupe, an open studio exhibition that explores the rich narratives embedded in textiles.

Mark your calendars for the opening on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at the Emerson Foundation Gallery, Stonetown!

🕙 Exhibition Dates: February 12 - April 9, 2026
📍 Location: Emerson Foundation Gallery, 236 Hurumzi Street, Stonetown
🕔 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 10 AM - 6 PM

In this thought-provoking exhibition, Jan van Esch transforms abandoned clothing into a powerful commentary on culture, identity, and the textile waste crisis. By scavenging garments from Amsterdam, Berlin, and Dar es Salaam, Jan highlights how clothing can serve as a communicative system bridging cultural divides through visual language.

The journey of clothing, from cherished garment to discarded waste reveals complex layers of meaning. Jan’s patchworks and intricate drawings celebrate these fragments, bringing new life and story to what we wear and waste. Through his art, he invites us to move beyond monologue to dialogue, questioning how we engage with textiles in our daily lives.

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with Jan’s compelling installations and join the conversation about the global implications of our fashion choices. We look forward to welcoming you to this vibrant exhibition!

📸✨ Be sure to follow us for sneak peeks and highlights as we countdown to the opening!

*🎉 Join Us for the 10th Emerson’s Zanzibar Foundation Music Award 2026 🎶*

🗓 LIVE PERFORMANCE
📅 Date: February 4, 2026
🕓 Time: From 4 PM
📍 Location: Mnazi Mmoja Grounds

🌟 Come Enjoy and discover a new Zanzibar’s musical talent!

🏆 AWARD CEREMONY
📅 *Date:* February 7, 2026
🕗 *Time:* 8:30 PM
📍 *Location:* Mnazi Mmoja Grounds

Celebrate the best in music and witness the awarding of exceptional talents who have made their mark in our music scene!

✨ Everyone is welcome! Bring your friends and family to enjoy the sights, sounds, and rhythm of Zanzibar!

For more information, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Email:[email protected]
Whatsapp: +255 687 048 767

AiR Spice – Artists in Residency

📍 Emerson Spice Hotel – Secret Garden

Opening Event
🗓️ 29th January 2026 January
4pm - 6pm

Open Daily from
🗓️ 29th January 2026 January - 22nd March 2026

🎨 Resident Artist: Suzana Edward Thomas
AiR Spice is a new residency program by Emerson Spice Hotel in collaboration with the Emerson Zanzibar Foundation, created to uplift and promote Zanzibari visual artists. The program transforms hospitality spaces into vibrant cultural hubs where art is not just displayed, but created, shared, and experienced in real time.

This season, we welcome our fourth resident artist, Suzana Edward Thomas.
Suzana is a visual artist from Zanzibar whose practice centres on painting and creative exploration. She began her artistic journey during secondary school and later received formal training in art and painting between 2019 and 2021.

She continues to refine her practice through mentorship with senior artists at the Cultural Arts Gallery in Ngome Kongwe and currently works as an independent artist. Suzana is a recipient of the Emerson’s Zanzibar Foundation Visual Arts Award and participated in a one-month artist-in-residence programme at Apao Village, where she strengthened her creative approach and professional confidence.
AiR Spice is more than an art residency it’s a bridge between artists, community, and visitors, placing Zanzibari creativity at the center of cultural experience.

📩 More info: [email protected]

📸 Follow the journey: | | IG: / FB: Art

Emerson Zanzibar Foundation and Tara Jazz warmly invite you to the launch of their new album CHEICHEI
🗓️Saturday 24 January 2026
🕕 from 18.30 until 22:00
📍 in the Secret Garden at Emerson Spice Hotel
Please R.S.V.P. to [email protected] or WhatsApp: +255 687 048 767
🙏Thanks to Emerson Spice Hotel and Veritas Foods & Drinks for supporting the event.
Album Release Event Schedule:
6:30pm - Guest arrival, welcome drink, networking
7:00pm - Introductions
7:20pm - Acoustic guitar performance – Martin Sambwe
7:40pm - Conversation with Tarajazz Band
8:00pm - Break
8:30pm - Album launch segment
8:40pm - Tarajazz Band performance
10:00pm - End of performance photos
10:00pm - Close of evening

Emerson’s Zanzibar Foundation announces the winner of the 5th Visual Arts Award – 2025 🎨

Held under the theme “From Canvas to Community”, this year’s award brought together 12 Zanzibari visual artists using art as a catalyst for social and cultural impact.

Participating artists: Kheri Shaibu Salim, Abdulrahman Ramadhani (Bin Sukheir), Haji Mwinyi Khamis (Migo), Abdallah Salim (Dula Obidi), Mmadi Aussi, Omar Idd Omar (Mnyamwezi), Mohamed A. Talib, Abdulla Khamis Omar (Dullah Wise), Hussein Mkada Hussein, Sizya Hafidh Dawson, Abdu Haji Ussi (Rogo), and Asha Abdalla Alli.

After a rigorous selection process, Mohamed Talib was named the winner for his project “Story Tell Sessions”, which uses storytelling to bring communities together while preserving Zanzibari traditions and collective wisdom.

Congratulations to all the artists for celebrating creativity, community, and culture.

1st MOHD A.TALIB
2nd ABDULLA KHAMIS OMAR (Dulla Wise)
3rd SIZYA HAFIDH DAWSON

We want to thank everyone who contributed and supported the exhibition and huge congratulations to all the participants 👏

🖼️ Come see all the amazing artworks

📍in the Emerson’s Zanzibar Foundation Art Gallery at Emerson on Hurumzi Hotel

🗓️Exhibition is open until 29 January 2026

Open Tue-Sun 10.00-18.00

📸 with thanks: Omar