Project Overview

Voices of Zanzibar is a multidisciplinary cultural heritage project aimed at capturing, preserving, and celebrating the rich tapestry of oral histories, musical traditions, and artistic expressions of the people of Zanzibar. Through community collaboration, storytelling workshops, traditional music recordings, visual art exhibitions, and digital archiving, this initiative seeks to document the living memories of elders and artists, and creatively pass them on to younger generations and global audiences.

Zanzibar, a melting pot of African, Arab, Indian, and European influences, holds centuries of untold stories encoded in music, oral poetry, and crafts. With modern life threatening the continuity of these traditions, Voices of Zanzibar becomes both a preservation mission and a platform for creative expression.

Project Components

1. Story Circles & Oral History Collection

• Conduct 12 community storytelling sessions in Stone Town, Pemba, and rural villages.
• Record interviews with elders, poets, fishermen, spice farmers, and artisans.
• Train youth as oral history collectors and interviewers.

2. Music of Memory: Traditional Soundscapes

• Field recordings of Taarab, Ngoma, Kidumbak, and spiritual chants.
• Partner with local musicians to preserve endangered songs and instruments.
• Live performance events to celebrate the recordings.

3. Art Inspired by Story

• Commission 10 local artists to create paintings, sculpture, and textile art inspired by the collected stories.
• Host a traveling exhibition across Unguja and Pemba, with pop-up shows in schools and markets.

4. Digital Memory Archive

• Develop a bilingual (Swahili/English) online archive to host:
• Audio stories
• Song recordings
• Photo documentation
• Artist profiles and virtual exhibitions

5. Youth Engagement & Education

• Workshops in schools on oral storytelling, music, and art-making.
• Create a "Memory Box" toolkit for teachers to use in classrooms.

6. Documentary Film & Public Showcase

• Produce a 25-minute documentary featuring the journey of the project.
• Host a final showcase event in Stone Town with performances, screenings, and exhibitions.

Project Goals

• Preserve Zanzibar’s intangible cultural heritage.
• Empower local voices through creative expression.
• Educate youth on traditional knowledge systems.
• Celebrate Zanzibar’s diversity through art, music, and shared memory.

Target Audience:

• Zanzibari communities (elders, youth, artists, musicians)
• Local and regional educators
• Cultural institutions and heritage NGOs
• Global audiences interested in African cultural traditions

Timeline

Duration: 12 months

Start Date: September 2026

End Date: August 2027

Proposed Budget

Potential Partners & Collaborators

• Zanzibar Cultural Heritage Centre.
• Dhow Countries Music Academy.
• State University of Zanzibar (SUZA)
• Local elders and traditional leaders.
• Community artists and youth groups.
• International heritage preservation bodies (e.g., UNESCO, Prince Claus Fund)

Sustainability

The project will train local youth and educators, creating long-term custodians of cultural knowledge. The digital archive and teaching toolkit will ensure ongoing access to materials. By showcasing Zanzibari culture globally, Voices of Zanzibar fosters pride, visibility, and economic opportunity for artists and tradition bearers.

Expected Outcomes

• 500+ stories and oral histories collected and archived.
• 50+ local artists and musicians commissioned and showcased.
• 10,000+ community members engaged through events, exhibitions, and workshops.
• Creation of a sustainable, community-led archive that supports ongoing cultural education.
• Increased local and international recognition of Zanzibari cultural richness.

Why It Matters

Zanzibar’s rich cultural identity is at risk of dilution in the face of modernization, tourism, and globalization. “Voices of Zanzibar” is a timely response—an act of cultural resistance and renewal. By valuing the wisdom of the elders, the energy of the youth, and the power of creativity, this project ensures that Zanzibari voices are not only preserved, but amplified for generations to come.

Call to Action: Join the Movement

We invite community members, artists, cultural institutions, funders, and partners to join us in bringing the “Voices of Zanzibar” to life.

• Donate to support artists and fund workshops, equipment, and exhibitions.
• Partner with us to host storytelling sessions or share expertise.
• Volunteer your skills—from translation to documentation to event support.
• Share the stories with your networks to give Zanzibar’s culture the global spotlight it deserves.

Every voice matters. Every memory counts. Let’s tell the stories that time forgot.