Find us in the
streets of Venice

Jambo Venice

A NEW KIND OF PAVILION?

Jambo Venice is a cooperation with Mariam Hamdani, Farouque Abdela Hamdani, Othman Hassan Said, and the people in Zanzibar and Venice.

It is a an ongoing participatory project in the public realm initiated by Lavínia Diniz Freitas & Maix Mayer in partnership with Valérie Bussmann.

Jambo is an informal Swahili greeting equivalent to saying hello in English or ciao in Italian.

Through cultural practices of language, garment, music, and digital intervention, JAMBO VENICE: A NEW KIND OF PAVILION? aims to foster a dynamic tapestry of communication that transcends linguistic and social boundaries. It seeks to connect people across borders, blurring traditional territorial constraints to explore transnational collaborations and redefine the concept of representation. By acknowledging the narratives woven by grassroots cultural agents, the project bridges continents to promote an inclusive, participatory, and diverse dialogue.

The project consists of three components: talking clothes, social sculpture, and waterproof sounds, happening in the public spaces of Venice and Zanzibar, as well as digitally during the Venice Biennale.

talking clothes

The Kanga is a widespread garment in East Africa, with its origins dating back to around 1880 supposedly in Zanzibar. Beyond its practical function as clothing, the Kanga holds profound cultural significance, evolving from its historical roots in resistance against colonialism and slavery to becoming a vital medium for social communication and expression.

Three elements define a Kanga:
the pindo (border pattern), the miji (central image), and a jina (proverb or message). Whether worn, purchased, or gifted, the proverb or message on the Kanga conveys direct and indirect messages among people.

Kangas and proverbs in Swahili and Italian will be temporarily exhibited by Venetian residents on their urban clotheslines. By incorporating the artwork into their daily life, each participant assumes the role of caretaker and conveyor of the message, shaping new spatial configurations and promoting community dialogue.

The project presents Kangas from two collections in Stone Town and a Tinga-Tinga street artist. Each collaborator has been invited to respond to the project‘s theme with a Kanga based on their interpretation of what transnational means to them.

The Historical Kangas are from Mariam Hamdani and Farouque Abdela Hamdani.

Hamdani is a journalist, cultural advocate, and musician who founded the Tausi Women’s Taarab group, dedicated to teaching women to play musical instruments. Her collection of over 100 Kangas is a treasured family heirloom, preserved and enriched with new additions over the past seven decades.

Abdela's fashion design practice offers rare insight into the diverse people and cultures of the region through the history of Zanzibari clothing. A selection of Kangas from his collection is housed at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Othman Hassan Said, locally known as Mani, painted a Kanga in the Tinga-Tinga style inspired by the chosen theme.

You can participate and support the project!

social sculpture

In public spaces in Venice and Zanzibar, posters bearing a QR code with AR marker present the question in Swahili and English:

„What defines contemporary to you?“

Each passer-by is invited to respond „national or transnational“.

Try it yourself!

waterproof sounds

The route through Venice will consist of several fixed points passing by social sculptures and talking clothes, all while being guided by the music. This configuration enables performers to intuitively select their paths, resulting in a series of evolving encounters.

Hear and see us!

From the Zanzibar beaches to the streets of Venice.
Boom Party Performances during the Live-Stream in the Lagune.

TBA
Live-Stream from Zanzibar

transnational notes

JAMBO VENICE: A NEW KIND OF PAVILION? is a project conceived as ongoing research to reflect upon notions of transnational relations and unveil new, unknown possibilities for action.
The presentation in the public realm is characterized by a fusion of popular and high cultural elements and discourses, bringing together multi-site installations, interventions and participation that navigate the between the „locals“ and the „transnational.“

In a kind of archaeology of the future, Venetian residents choose the narrative of Zanzibari contributors to introduce to their quotidian, and passing participants contribute to building a social sculpture. The same happens in Zanzibar. Together, these actions unfold into a kaleidoscope of elements that bridge perceived cultural differences. They bring forth interconnectedness and understanding among people across borders, leading to a blurring of traditional territorial controls imposed by nation-states.

about the team

Mariam Hamdani

conductress of Tausi Women’s Taarab

collector of Kangas

Farouque Abdela Hamdani

fashion designer

Othman Hassan Said

street artist

Lavínia Diniz Freitas

independent curator

Maix Mayer
visual & conceptual artist

Valérie Bussmann
independent cultural & art history expert

thank you

We would especially like to thank:

Salvatore Timpano, Valérie Bussmann, Lucia Lamberti, Claudia Böhme, Francesco Amato, Alba D’Urbano, Leander Seige, Francesco Cincotta, Lilly Bozzo-Costa, Annette Menting, Florian Summa, Beatrice Koch, Alex Göhse, Eva Rottensteiner, Tina Wurmus, Selma Wurmus, Gabriele Wurmus, Martha Wurmus, Lia & Giuseppe, Maria & Luciano, Elena, Yvette, Stefan Wisbauer, Filippo, Adriano, Tommaso, Cinzia