The Third Invocation of the 36th Bienal de São Paulo Highlights Taarab Culture and Philosophy
Invocation of 36th Bienal de São Paulo at LE 18, in Marrakech, Marrocos. © Youssef Boumbarek / Fundação Bienal de São
The 36th Bienal de São Paulo continues its global journey with its third Invocation, titled Mawali–Taqsim: Improvisation as a Space and Technology of Humanity. Scheduled to take place in Zanzibar from February 11–13, 2025, the event will explore the rich cultural and artistic traditions of Taarab music and poetry, emphasising improvisation as a profound metaphor for human adaptability and interconnectedness. This Invocation will be hosted by Maru Maru and Golden Tulip hotels, with the Dhow Countries Music Academy (DCMA) as a partner institution.
The program draws inspiration from the overarching concept of the 36th Bienal de São Paulo, Not All Travellers Walk Roads – Of Humanity as Practice, which takes its cue from the Afrobrazilian poet Conceição Evaristo’s poem “Da calma e do silêncio” (Of Calm and Silence). Under the curatorial direction of Prof. Dr. Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung and co-curators Alya Sebti, Anna Roberta Goetz, Thiago de Paula Souza, and Keyna Eleison, the Bienal examines humanity as a practice rooted in shared histories and cultural intersections.
A Celebration of Taarab Music and Zanzibar’s Cultural Hybridity
The Zanzibar Invocation centers on Taarab, a musical genre emblematic of the island’s cultural hybridity, blending African, Arabic, Asian, and European influences. This genre serves as both a medium for personal expression and a reflection of Zanzibar’s rich cultural tapestry. Swahili, the island’s lingua franca, and Taarab’s improvisational nature provide a profound lens for examining humanity’s nuances and shared heritage.
Djibril Diop Mambéty’s notion of art as “my grandmother’s grammar” resonates deeply with the spirit of Taarab, which weaves together eclectic instruments, poetic lyrics, and spontaneous techniques. This Invocation offers an opportunity to explore the “grammar” of humanity through a celebration of Zanzibar’s historical and cultural intersections.
About the Invocations
As part of the lead-up to the 36th Bienal de São Paulo, a series of public programs titled Invocations will be held in four cities: Marrakech, Guadeloupe, Zanzibar, and Tokyo. These events contextualise the Bienal’s theme of Humanity as Practice, expanding its scope through local perspectives, live performances, and publications. The Invocations aim to enrich the vocabulary of humanity by exploring how artistic practices across diverse geographies embody interconnectedness and cultural exchange.
Zanzibar Invocation Program
February 11, 2025 (Tuesday) – Maru Maru Hotel
- 7:00 PM – 7:45 PM: Introduction and welcome by Prof. Dr. Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, Khamis Mohammed Juma (DCMA), and Bernard Ntahondi
- 7:45 PM – 8:15 PM: Ishaa (prayer time)
- 8:20 PM – 10:00 PM: Performance by Siti Muharam
February 12, 2025 (Wednesday) – Golden Tulip Hotel
- 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM: Lecture by Thabit Omar Kiringe on transcribing traditional Taarab music
- 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM: Lecture by Rukia Ramadhani, a traditional Taarab singer
- 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM: Adhuhuri (prayer time)
- 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Presentation by Mohamed Ameir Muombwa on the audience experience of Taarab
- 3:35 PM – 4:00 PM: Alasir (prayer time)
- 4:00 PM – 6:15 PM: Lecture by Thania Petersen
- 6:30 PM – 6:50 PM: Maghrib (prayer time)
- 7:00 PM – 7:45 PM: Music performance by DCMA Young Stars band
- 7:45 PM – 8:15 PM: Ishaa (prayer time)
February 13, 2025 (Thursday) – Golden Tulip Hotel
- 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Lecture by Aisha Bakary (Hijab DJ) on music and identity
- 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM: Lecture by Tryphon Evarist, DCMA Artistic Director
- 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM: Adhuhuri (prayer time)
- 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Break for energy activation
- 3:35 PM – 4:00 PM: Alasir (prayer time)
- 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM: Poetry session with Mohamed Ilyas
- 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM: Lecture by Maryam Mohammed Hamdan
- 6:30 PM – 6:50 PM: Maghrib (prayer time)
- 7:00 PM – 7:45 PM: DJ set by Aisha Bakary
- 7:45 PM – 8:15 PM: Ishaa (prayer time)
- 8:15 PM – 9:15 PM: Performance by Uwaridi Female Band
About the Participants
The program features a diverse group of artists, curators, and cultural advocates from Zanzibar and beyond. Highlights include:
- Aisha Bakary (Hijab DJ): Zanzibar’s first female DJ, recognized for breaking gender norms in music.
- Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung: Curator of the 36th Bienal and prominent cultural leader.
- Mohamed Ilyas: Renowned Taarab musician blending traditional and modern influences.
- Siti Muharam: Revered Taarab artist carrying forward the legacy of her great-grandmother.
- Uwaridi Female Band: An all-women ensemble redefining Zanzibar’s musical traditions.
The 36th Bienal de São Paulo’s third Invocation in Zanzibar promises to be a rich exploration of Taarab’s artistic and philosophical dimensions, offering a profound space to reflect on humanity’s shared cultural grammar.
For more information, please visit Fundação Bienal de São Paulo.
