Sanaa Blast 2025 Ignites UDSM with Creative Firepower: A Festival of Talent, Vision, and Opportunity
By Jackson Isdory, CMU
For three electrifying days, the University of Dar es Salaam’s Department of Creative Arts transformed into a vibrant stage of innovation, artistic expression, and cultural dialogue during the ninth edition of the Sanaa Blast Festival, held from 19–21 June 2025.
Under the energizing motto ‘Walete tuvibe’ (Bring them—we vibe), the festival not only showcased student creativity at its finest but also aligned with Tanzania’s broader development goals of nurturing youth talent and expanding employment opportunities in the creative sector.
Officiating the event on behalf of the Deputy Vice Chancellor–Research, Prof. Nelson Boniface, Prof. Baraka Maiseli, Principal of the College of Information and Communication Technologies (CoICT), described Sanaa Blast as a vital bridge between academia and industry.
“This festival connects students to the professional world. It is where raw talent meets opportunity, and where potential is transformed into career paths”, he noted.
He emphasized that the festival reinforces national priorities by empowering youth through creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Daines Sanga, Head of the Department of Creative Arts (College of Humanities), described Sanaa Blast as more than a showcase—it is an incubator of ideas and a live demonstration of applied learning.
This festival bridges theory and practice, enabling our students to commercialise their talents while engaging directly with the creative industry,” she said.
A festival that lives and breathes talent
Day one opened with powerful film and design showcases, including the premiere of Gabo, a student-produced film that wowed audiences with its originality and technical quality.
Day two was a burst of energy with expert-led masterclasses, live performances including the crowd favourite Barobaro, and a competitive spoken word contest featuring six emerging poets.
On day three, the singing competition finals lit up the stage. A captivating appearance by Tegeta Kids delighted the crowd, and winners were announced to loud applause.
Mr. Nilesh Bhatt, Director of Mambo Media and POAFLIX, graced the closing ceremony and praised the participants for their talent and professionalism.
“This is more than a performance—it is a career launchpad. Through Sanaa Blast, students are entering the job market equipped with both skills and networks”, he said, pledging continued support from industry stakeholders.
Student-led innovation, backed by partners and alumni
Dr. Sanga emphasised that Sanaa Blast continues to be a student-led initiative, executed under academic supervision to build both artistic and entrepreneurial capacity. The 2025 edition was spearheaded by Festival Director Dr. Issa Mbura, Deputy Director Mr. Faustino Niyo, and Coordinators Peterclaver Buretha and Lightness Kazinduki.
Special recognition was given to student Mustafa Maulid, whose standout work in graphic design and branding was widely praised.
The festival drew robust support from sponsors including UDSM, POAFLIX, Premier Bet, UTT AMIS, THT, EXA, HD Studio, and Hugo Domingo. Alumni played a vital role in fundraising, talent scouting, and logistics, demonstrating the department’s strong industry connections.
“Our alumni are our development bridge bringing stars, resources, and professional insight,” said Mr. Faustine Niyo, Festival’s Deputy Director.
From humble beginnings to national recognition
Launched in 2017 as Talent’s Fever, an internal showcase of student projects, the event evolved into Tikisa in 2018 before being rebranded as Sanaa Blast in 2019, a name now synonymous with creative excellence in Tanzania.
As it gears up for its 10th anniversary in 2026, plans are already underway to expand the festival’s scope to include international performers, more masterclasses, and additional competition categories to further empower young creatives.
The festival aligns closely with national strategies such as the Third Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP III) and the National Youth Development Policy, both of which prioritise creative industries as engines for job creation and economic diversification.
Sanaa Blast stands out by offering students a national platform to showcase their work, network with industry professionals, gain practical job market readiness, and acquire entrepreneurial skills in event planning and branding.
“Sanaa Blast is an academic festival, a professional audition, a networking space, and a driver of the creative economy”, said Dr. Daines Sanga.
As the curtains fall on Sanaa Blast 2025, one message echoes across the UDSM campus: Tanzania’s creative future is alive and thriving—and it starts right here.