Know Our Artists

Ali Abass (Obe Mataji)
Life matters in art
OBE MATAJI was born in 1972 in the urban west of Zanzibar. He is a visual artist, and his favorite medium is acrylic on canvas. He had been a gallerist since 1994, then four years later established himself as an artist and started his artistic career in 1998.
Additionally, he started developing his skills and practices, focusing on color mastering and technique. He feels proud to have art skills, which enable him to raise his voice through art.
He is an abstracter and modernist, often using color to express his feelings, thoughts, and themes.
In general, his work speaks about the transformation and growth of people in his community.

Juma Ali Hamadi (J.Tara)
With an art, I feel connect to a world
Juma Tara was born in 1997 at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He is a multi-disciplinary artist such as painter and photographer, based in Zanzibar. He started as self-taught when he was a child, usually liked to draw on paper without knowing what he did.
He is mature with the same spirit and affection. In mid-time, one of his friends recognize his talent and ask him to find an art space which can help to nurture his talents.
He joined NAFASI ART SPACES, Where he got the courage to meet with fellow artist and got some guidance. Then joined CAGZ ARTS GALLERY for further study and artistic practices.
He is very compassionate about children’s lives and their stories. He’s work focus children’s matter.

Suleiman Rashid (Binda)
Suleiman Rashid know as Binda was born in 1973 on Pemba (as island which if a part of the Zanzibar archipelago in Tanzania)
Binda his a self-taught artist and participated in numerous courses and trainings, however he did not complete his studies in the field of fine arts.
His the master of roundonism style which inspired him to design his own reality. His work is unusual, highly manifestation of contemporary art.
His work exhibited in various exhibition domestic and international. The recent exhibition called Secret of creation was in Poland in 2022.

Omar Masoud (Bampango)
My art, my life!!
In 1975, Omar Masoud, popularly known as Bambango, was born and reared in Zanzibar. He finished his first fine art and batik course at Zanzibar House of Art (Nyumba ya Sanaa) in 1988, and his second term there in 1989.
Despite having taken part in a number of solo and group art exhibitions, Bampango's favorite was the
America California Art Gallery's Upcoming Exhibition (2005) Never in his artistic career had he experienced something so wonderful.
In addition, he enjoys working on canvases with a variety of media, including acrylic and watercolor. Because water color gives him greater technique and style, he is more prone to employ it.
As a fisherman who has gone fishing, he frequently uses ocean life as a symbol in his artwork. Ocean life is a great place for him to express himself in his art since it makes him feel beautiful.
As one of the few art instructors and trainers still active on the island, Bampango is currently educating a new generation of artists. He dedicated his entire life to mentoring upcoming artists and sharing his knowledge with them.

Hemed Mohammed (Medi)
He was born in 1975 in Zanzibar. He is completed his secondary education in 1997 in Dar es Salaam region.
His artistic work started in Dar ktk Magazine of the SANI Company by drawing cartoons.
Later on, he moved to back Zanzibar, and joined NYUMBA YA SANAA to enhance his talents.
Medi is a multidisciplinary artists doing painting, illustration and cartoons.
He has variety of style mostly painted by pallete knife mixed with brushes.

Pangrass Mbawala
Pangrass Mbawala born at 1999 in Zanzibar. He is complete secondary education in 2016 and then joined Tasuba College for performing and visual art courses at the same time film and video production.
He is multidisciplinary artist such as painter photographer, print maker and graphic designer.
Pangrass his favorite medium is acrylic on canvas base on realistic. Inspired to do realistic painting because he discover and compose different elements on his work that give him more depth on his creativity. Also, uses on teaching his student thus why like to practice the same style.
His is a full time artist inspire on capturing landscape photography and transform it on painting.

Haji Simba
Haji simba was born and raised in Zanzibar. He graduated from Nyumba ya Sanaa (Art house) 1995. Since he has been participated in various workshops to improve his
qualification.
He is a contemporary realist’s painter and graphic who live and work in Zanzibar. His work is unique and unusual and raise voices of Zanzibar culture. His favorite medium is mixed media with hemp rope, acrylic color on canvas.
His work exhibited in various exhibition domestic and international. Like JAMAFEST. ZIFF, Zanzibar cultural festival and FESTAC Africa and Zanzibar Tourism show.
Though, simba was lucky to paint a portrait of the first president of Zanzibar the late Abeid Amani karume and hand it over to his son Hon. Amani Abeid Karume as a gift to and his tenure as 5th president of Zanzibar.

Ramadhan Awesu
Ramadhan Awesu Saleh he was born in 1989 at Temeke, Dar es Salaam. He finished his
secondary education in Zanzibar in 2015.
He is artistic started at early age at primary school when he got courage to participate in art lessons at Dar es salaam youth union for two years.
Ramadhan continue with an art lesson from established artists in stone town Zanzibar.
His favorite media is watercolor, acrylic on canvas and digital arts. He has different

Yahya Rashid (Y.Binda)
Yahya Suleiman Rashid known as Yahya Binda, he is the son of famed visual artist in the era of art history of Zanzibar.
He is multidisciplinary artist such as painter and print maker. He started drawing when he was 5 years old, since then he liked to do what his father does. He grown-up with the same attitude and follow his father’s footsteps.
At present time, Yahya is a noticeable young visual artist for his incredible gift and creativeness.
Additionally, his work focus on raising voices on traditional and culture to inspire his audiences.