DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has invited a delegation of Kenyan content creators to Tanzania ahead of the 2026 Kizimkazi Festival, bringing prominent digital personalities into a high-profile cultural and tourism programme in Zanzibar.
The Kenyan delegation includes Bunge la Wananchi President Cassypool, also known as Dr Cassypool, and content creator Harriet Njenga, among other Kenyan online personalities.
Their visit comes as Tanzania prepares to host the 10th edition of the Kizimkazi Festival, an event that combines culture, entertainment, tourism, community development and investment.
Their itinerary begins in Arusha, before moving to Dar es Salaam. They will then travel to Kizimkazi in Zanzibar to attend the festival before concluding the tour in Dodoma.
The creators are expected to produce digital content highlighting Tanzania’s tourism attractions, infrastructure and development projects.
Their presence also gives Tanzanian destinations an opportunity to reach Kenyan audiences through social media platforms, where the creators have established significant followings.
The invitation places digital creators at the centre of a broader effort to promote regional tourism and people-to-people connections between Kenya and Tanzania.
Harriet Njenga has publicly expressed her excitement over the invitation, while Cassypool has also spoken about the significance of the trip.
The Kizimkazi Festival takes place in Kizimkazi, a coastal community in southern Zanzibar. The event has evolved considerably since its beginnings in 2015.
It started as a small community gathering associated with Samia Suluhu Hassan after she became the running mate of the late President John Magufuli. Organisers later renamed it Kizimkazi Day before transforming it into a fully fledged festival.
The festival has since developed into a platform for celebrating Zanzibar’s culture while promoting tourism, investment and community development.
The 2026 edition marks its 10th anniversary, following the suspension of the event in 2025 because of Tanzania’s general elections.
This year’s festival places particular emphasis on Zanzibar’s blue economy, with organisers seeking to showcase opportunities linked to marine tourism, fishing and other ocean-based activities.
One of the festival’s major attractions is its traditional maritime programme.
Dhow and ngalawa races form part of the activities celebrating Zanzibar’s long connection with the Indian Ocean and traditional seafaring.
The races also provide a way for organisers to preserve maritime knowledge and introduce younger generations to traditional coastal practices.
Beyond the water, the festival features trade exhibitions, cultural performances and community activities.
Local businesses can showcase products, food, crafts and services, while visitors get an opportunity to experience aspects of Swahili coastal culture.
The entertainment programme also brings together performers from Tanzania’s vibrant music industry, including Bongo Flava, Singeli and traditional Taarab artists, alongside comedy performances.
Kizimkazi Festival has increasingly expanded beyond entertainment.
Organisers and government officials use the event to highlight tourism and investment opportunities across Zanzibar and Tanzania.
The blue economy forms a major part of the 2026 programme, reflecting Zanzibar’s dependence on the Indian Ocean and its potential in marine tourism, fisheries and other ocean-based industries.
Community development also remains part of the festival’s agenda, with previous editions providing a platform for infrastructure and social development initiatives.
