NAFASI ART SPACE HAS AN ACTIVE PUBLIC PROGRAM OF EXHIBITIONS AND PERFORMANCES FOR VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE AND PARTICIPATE IN CONTEMPORARY ART
EXHIBITION & PERFORMANCE
Nafasi is not only a space for the creation of art, but also a platform to share it with the public.
Nafasi events promote participation in culture, strengthen community and build a shared sense of cultural pride and identity.
We strive to increase awareness of Tanzanian art by running a lively programme of free events. In this way we reach out to a general public that is not accustomed to visiting visual art exhibitions and start a dialogue about art in Tanzanian society.
Our work also provides a platform for connecting the different art fields in Tanzania.
We aim to increase the visibility of Nafasi artists and their works, create a stage for buyers, and increase entrepreneurial opportunities for the artists.
Our events, including festivals, film screenings, interactive art fairs, performances, and concerts, connect audiences with meaningful, inspiring and beautiful artistic works and experiences.
EXHIBITION & PERFORMANCE
PERFORMING ARTS EVENTS
Nafasi partners with artists, curators and organisations to present a lively programme of performing arts events, including music and dance festivals, poetry readings, theatre performances, and interdisciplinary works. Nafasi has hosted Marafiki Music Festival, Contemporary Dance Night, Hip Hop Asili Festival, Time2Dance festival, Haba na Haba Dance Festival, the Jalada Literary Festival, Marahaba Swahili Music Festival, and dozens of other vibrant events. Nafasi also organizes regular events, such as the bi-annual Wikiendi Live festival, Lete Stori music showcases, and regular Tukutane Nafasi gatherings which showcase new work from a variety of disciplines including visual art, films, and music. UPCOMING EVENTS
WIKIENDI LIVE!
Launched at Nafasi in May 2016, Wikiendi Live! is a unique and vibrant live music event dedicated to showcasing traditional African beats and fusion. The platform features artists from around Tanzania and Zanzibar, as well as visiting regional and international artists who bring opportunities for inspiration and exchange.
Wikiendi Live! programmes artists who are willing to break from mainstream expectations by tapping into deep sources of heritage or experimenting with new forms of expression, or do both at the same time.
The platform seeks to develop audiences who are adventurous in their tastes and interested in expanding their musical horizons by being exposed to live music that excites, inspires, and revives enthusiasm for East Africa’s rich musical heritage. UPCOMING WIKIENDI LIVE! EVENTS
FILM SCREENINGS
Nafasi hosts regular film screenings that are free and open to the public.
Starting in 2012, Nafasi partnered with Get Reel Training to launch Filamu Lounge, which screened independent films from around the world. Then, during May 2016 – May 2018, Nafasi collaborated with Kijiweni Productions to present Kijiweni Cinema once a month, focusing on classic and contemporary African and African diaspora films. During 2018-19, Nafasi hosted the Tanzania Film Lab screenings of up-and-coming Tanzanian filmmaking talent. 2021 saw Nafasi launch the Sauti Mpya film programme, which resulted in the production of a short film anthology called NDIO UKUBWA and led to the initiation of the Nafasi Film Club, a collective of emerging filmmakers in Dar who seek to spark a culture of artistic cinema in Tanzania. They gather weekly for film critique sessions, collaborate to produce personal narrative short films, and organize public screenings to bring Tanzanian films to new audiences.
Nafasi also organises special public and test screenings for local filmmakers. Join us for our UPCOMING FILM SCREENINGS
EXHIBITIONS
Nafasi Art Space has three galleries with more than 500 meters of exhibition space available for visual artists to showcase their artworks to the public. We work closely with artists to exhibit curated solo and group exhibitions that present fine and contemporary art with a focus on both local and global socio-political issues. These exhibitions give artists an opportunity to share their work and also help to increase public awareness for the contemporary visual art scene in Tanzania.
Nafasi Art Space also presents exhibitions around Dar es Salaam in partner galleries, museums, public spaces, and other venues.
The gallery at Nafasi is open Monday – Saturday 10am – 4pm.