Emerson Collection Catalogue April 2025
April 14, 2025
Awards · December 2023
‘Hadithi ya Bibi’ — Grandmother’s Story — officially opened at the Emerson’s Zanzibar Art Gallery by Emerson on Hurumzi.
Ongoing · on display until 7 January 2024
The exhibition
The Art Exhibition ‘Hadithi ya Bibi’ is officially opened in the Emerson’s Zanzibar Art Gallery by Emerson on Hurumzi.
All this year’s participating artists are between 18 and 35 years old and their artworks all follow their interpretation of the theme of the exhibition. This year’s theme is ‘Grandmother’s Story’. Through this exhibition the new generation is connecting to the older history.
In November 2023, Emerson Zanzibar Foundation put out a call for all artists to participate in this joint exhibition. To celebrate local art and culture, the Emerson Zanzibar Foundation launched its 3rd Visual Arts Award, with the winner announced and award presentation in the week of the exhibition. Currently around a dozen artists are participating in the exhibition and prestigious award.
The awards
On the 8th of December the annual Art Award was presented by Dr Omar of BASSFU in the Emerson’s Zanzibar Art Gallery by Emerson on Hurumzi Hotel.
Yussuf received the award for his artwork ‘Jiko La Zamani’. Rogoo was runner up with his artwork ‘Strong Woman’. The people’s choice award went to Camii (Samira Said Ail) for the artwork ‘Beauty of Jang’ombe’.
Emerson Zanzibar Foundation believes passionately in promoting and preserving the local culture of Zanzibar, in visual art, musical art, film and literacy.
Since the gallery opened
During the worldwide Covid Pandemic, Emerson Zanzibar Hotels started holding art exhibitions in a different way to how they had been done previously. These were curated exhibitions, styled around a live interview with the artist. Everyone was welcomed in Emerson Zanzibar style — from the few, curious tourists to residents, to invited special guests — with fresh hibiscus juice, ginger tea, local snacks and sweets lovingly made by the hotel’s chef.
A group of artists approached Emerson Zanzibar with the request to organise an exhibition with both established and young, upcoming artists — to provide an opportunity for well established artists to share their experiences and for the young a chance to show their work publicly.
Emerson Zanzibar is not just hotels and restaurants; since our doors opened, Emerson Zanzibar has been very closely connected to the creative sector. And so the Visual Arts awards began…
The participants 2023
Thank you Salma Adym for hosting and MCing. Thanks to the trustees for their attendance and supportive words, and thanks to the guest of honor, Dr Omar of the Baraza la Sanaa, who promised to arrange certificates for all participants for their participation in the exhibition and for registering the artists for free.
Thanks also to the first buyers, one artwork by Suzana was sold already!
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