WELCOME TO
MAJESTIC CULTURE HUB
A Unique and Innovative Space for Zanzibar’s Culture Sectore
ABOUT US
The Majestic Cinema opened its doors on 20th October 1955. The Art Deco building was designed by a local architect Dayalji Pitamber Sachania and commissioned by Hassanlai Hameer Hasham after the previous building burned down on the 8th February 1954.
The building was constructed by a local contractor G. Arjun Kunverji Patel & Co. Ltd. The old Majestic Cinema (originally called the Royal Cinema) was the first luxurious cinema in East Africa. It was opened by Hassanali Adamjee Jariwalla and designed by J.H. Sinclair, the British Resident and architect of buildings such as the Post
FUTURE PLANS
The Majestic Cinema building will be re-purposed as a Culture Hub centred around its original use as a cinema.
The Majestic Cinema building will be re-purposed as a Culture Hub centred around its original use as a cinema.
It will evoke the cultural heritage of the building and build upon Zanzibar’s rich legacy of communal spaces, by introducing a place where various cultural activities can take place
It will have places for people to meet and interact, but also spaces for artists and creators to work, exchange ideas and showcase their practice.
MAJESTIC CINEMA
The Majestic Cinema building will be re-purposed as a Culture Hub centredaround its original use as a cinema.
Beneficiaries and users
Local
- Local organisations and artists to use space for working, meetings and workshops.
- Shows and displays can be visited by surrounding communities and schools.
Governmental
- Meeting and conference facilities supplement to Abdul Whakil Hall.
International
- International standard conference facilities.
- Attract tourists through cultural events.
Originally, the new Majestic Cinema had a panoramic projection screen and stereophonic sound system and seating for 750 people, including a large steep balcony for 200 people. In addition to housing the cinema, the building housed at various times: restaurant (canteen? selling popcorn, sodas, pastries and other nibbles), the offices of Air Tanzania (previously the East African Airways) and a hotel called Pigalle run by a French lady.
Today the building in addition to being used as cinema hall is also used for offices by the State University of Zanzibar. Ticket offices were located at the front and at the back until the erection of the building housing today a small restaurant and offices at the back of the cinema.
Ownership and management
The Majestic Cinema is currently managed by Abdulhussein Marashi who has been working in the cinema since 1982. While Marashi is not the owner of the cinema building which was nationalized in 1964 he is commonly known in the community as one.
Abdulhussein Marashi was preceded by his father. It is not exactly clear when his father became the proprietor of the Zanzibar Theatres Ltd. originally owning the building (archival material indicates that during the first years after the Revolution the company was still in the hands of Kassamali Jaffer Hameer). Today the cinema is owned by the Government of Zanzibar.
PARTNERS
Ultimately, Majestic Culture Hub is to become financially independent.
A private company with public goal: to reset the standard of heritage management in StownTown. They contribute to developing and maintaining Stone Town’s thriving centre, by acquiring, restoring and cost-effectively utilizing monumental buildings in a sustainable way.
OUR TEAM
Hifadhi Zanzibar manages its property in a profitable way, not with the aim to maximize dividend, but to reinvest in new property, making an ever-increasing positive impact on the state of Zanzibar’s built heritage.
Step-by-step Hifadhi makes Stone Town a more attractive urban environment, meanwhile stimulating other owners to follow suit.
