About us

The Swahili Performing Arts Center of Zanzibar (Swahili Center) is a not-for-profit, cultural NGO that was founded by Kheiri Jumbe and Mahsin Basalama in June 2011. The vision of the organization is TO RESTORE AND ELEVATE THE SWAHILI CULTURAL IDENTITY.
The mission of the Swahili Center is to further the development of authentic swahili performing arts disciplines from Zanzibar and the Swahili coast through Empowerment, Production, Presentation and Outreach.
Generally, the operations of this organization shal aim to provide the peoples of Zanzibar and the world with its first fully-fledged performing arts venues dedicated to authentic Swahili performing arts genres from Zanzibar and other parts of the Swahili Coast.
Central to the goals of the organization is to facilitate high-quality, pertinent and affordable performing arts programs to primarily local audiences – currently disenfranchised for access in favor of better-paying tourist audiences and foreign performers.
Through partnership with other arts organization, commercial presenters and community stakeholders, the Swahili Center aims to provide permanent platforms in both Unguja and Pemba Isles where productions by local artists/ groups can be presented to local audiences all year round.
Through the existence of the Swahili Center, artists of the targeted genres will gain access to dedicated and yet subsidized venues from where they can present their works and therefore have opportunity to build audiences and hence revenue for their works.
Ideally, those revenues to the artists and the industry shall be re-invested towards the production of better works in order to build more audiences, supporters and better infrastructure to further impact the society and sustain the Arts to last for the future generations.
The Swahili Center aims to ensure that the authentic performing arts disciplines of the Swahili people live on and continue to entertain, to educate, to build unity and to promote cultural tolerance. Our Culture is Our Pride!