Zanzibar welcomes the 36th edition of Bienal de São Paulo

Zanzibar. The 36th Bienal de São Paulo is making its mark on the global stage with its latest stop in Zanzibar from yesterday, February 11, for its third invocation, titled Mawali–Taqsim: Improvisation as a Space and Technology of Humanity.

Running for three days till Thursday, February 13, the historic island hosts an extraordinary artistic and musical experience, bringing together cultural practitioners, scholars, and musicians to explore the depth of Taarab music and its role in humanity’s shared artistic evolution.

The event will feature the Dhow Countries Music Academy (DCMA) as a key partner institution.

Speaking to The Citizen, the Bienal’s artistic director, Dr Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, shed light on why Zanzibar was selected as a key location for the Invocations.

"As the subtitle of the 36th Bienal de São Paulo reveals, we are interested in humanity as a practice. So we chose four places across the globe (Marrakech, Guadeloupe, Zanzibar, and Tokyo) to engage in these different geographical, geopolitical, and sociocultural spaces with how humanity is or could be conjugated," he explained.

According to Ndikung, the selection of these spaces was guided by two main aspects: water and music.

"In the concept for the São Paulo Bienal, we think of estuaries as metaphors of spaces within which the multiplicities of different life forms exist in relation.

The other criterion was the relation to the sonic at large and music in particular. In the case of Zanzibar, we are interested in Taarab music. The space of music is a philosophical, political, social, and artistic space. There is so much we can actually learn from such spaces," he added.

With its deep-rooted Swahili heritage and historical ties to Africa, the Gulf, and Asia, Zanzibar represents a unique intersection of past, present, and future, a convergence of cultures that perfectly aligns with the theme of humanity as practice.

Ndikung highlighted the genre’s poetic essence, drawing a fascinating connection between Taarab and the overarching theme of the Bienal.

"Taarab is a music world steeped in poetry. The songs of great taarab musicians like Siti bint Saad, Bi Kidude, Mzee Yusuph, and many more tell of personal and societal issues, of love and politics, of the brighter and darker sides of life and humanity," he said.

He further connected this sentiment to the poem Da Calma e do Silêncio by Afro-Brazilian poet Conceição Evaristo, from which the Bienal takes its title, ‘Not All Travellers Walk Roads.’

"Like with good poetry, good Taarab has the potential of opening up sacred worlds... There are submerged worlds that only the rhythms and stories of Taarab penetrate," Ndikung remarked.

A packed program of music, poetry and cultural dialogue

For those eager to immerse themselves in this unique experience, the Zanzibar program promises an exciting fusion of live performances, poetry, discussions, DJ sets, and communal gatherings.

According to Ndikung, the entire program has been meticulously curated in collaboration with the Dhow Countries Music Academy and researcher, artist, and curator Ben Ntahondi.

"I really recommend the program in its entirety. The whole program is the crescendo. Together with our colleagues of the Dhow Countries Music Academy as well as researcher, artist and curator Ben Ntahondi, we have sculpted a program of live Taarab music performances, poetry, lectures, conversations, DJ sets, eating and praying together, and much more," he said.

The Invocations are not just standalone events; they serve as bridges to the main Bienal exhibition in São Paulo later in the year.

"The Invocations must be understood as efforts to feel the pulse of humanity across the globe before staging the Bienal in São Paulo. It should be understood as a possibility of listening to accents of humanity in different geographies and an effort in experiencing how humanity is conjugated in different areas in the world," Ndikung noted.

He further revealed that these experiences will be documented in four books produced in collaboration with the Bienal's educational team and will also be showcased in the main exhibition.

"With the Invocations, we bring the São Paulo Bienal to the world, and with the exhibition, we bring the world to São Paulo," he concluded.

With its mesmerising sounds and evocative storytelling, this invocation offers fans a glimpse into music, memory, and humanity, casting a global spotlight on Zanzibar’s rich artistic legacy.