Dar es Salaam is set to become a continental hub for creativity this week as more than 3,000 artists and cultural stakeholders from Africa, Europe and North America gather for the 2025 Tukutane Dar Arts Week.
The festival, organised by Nafasi Art Space, opened today and will run until November 30, offering a packed programme of performances, exhibitions and professional exchanges.
Nafasi Art Space Director, Lilian Hypolite, told journalists in Dar es Salaam that the festival has grown into one of the most significant cultural gatherings in East Africa, uniting local and international talent to share ideas and strengthen professional networks.
She said the event is designed to bring together artists, cultural managers, students and creative professionals for a week of learning, reflection and collaboration.
According to Hypolite, this year marks the third edition of the festival, which continues to attract a diverse group of participants from countries including Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Germany, Poland and Canada.
She added that artists from several Tanzanian regions, among them Dodoma, Mtwara, Mwanza and Zanzibar, will also take part, making the event a true meeting point for the continent’s creative community.
Hypolite emphasised that the festival’s theme, “Regional Cooperation for the Development of the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI),” reflects the need to strengthen cross-border partnerships in order to support growth in the sector.
She noted that the week-long activities will be staged across several cultural hubs in Dar es Salaam, giving participants access to different artistic environments and broadening the scope of engagement.
The programme features workshops, masterclasses, exhibitions, film screenings, panel discussions and creative showcases.
Hypolite said these activities were deliberately designed to spark creative thinking while also equipping artists with practical knowledge that can advance their careers.
Sessions dedicated to mental wellness and personal development have also been included to support artists’ long-term growth.
Speaking during the briefing, Abel Ndaga, a Senior Arts Officer at the National Arts Council (BASATA), commended Nafasi Art Space for providing a platform that strengthens the capacity of local artists.
He said the creative industry in Tanzania continues to expand, with many artists now earning sustainable income from their work and contributing to national economic growth through taxation. Ndaga argued that art is increasingly becoming a reliable profession for young people.
Filmmaker and founder of TAI Studio, Gwamaka Mwabuka, described the festival as a vital gateway for collaboration between Tanzanian artists and their international counterparts.
He said his participation in global exhibitions has exposed him to new possibilities for partnerships. Mwabuka noted that a renowned female puppetry artist he met during one of his international engagements will attend this year’s edition to share her expertise and train local talent.
With this year’s festival now underway, Dar es Salaam is positioning itself more firmly as a regional centre for artistic innovation and cultural dialogue.
The city’s creative community expects that the experiences and connections formed throughout the week will continue to ripple across Africa’s cultural landscape long after the final curtain falls.