Activities
What's On?
We are thrilled to have Zanlink in our building. Together we are commited to make a positive impact. Stay tuned for more updates on our joint efforts to build a more connected and empowered community
In the course of the ziff programs prepared by international facilitators. Majestic was able to habour a group of filmmakers who had a creative writing workshop dedicated to equip the with enough knowledge to improve their work.
Majestic Cinema, which opened on October 20, 1955, after the original cinema building was destroyed by fire, was the pride of Zanzibar. Designed by the renowned Zanzibari architect Dayalji Pitamber Sachania, it replaced the previous Royal Cinema, built in 1921, which burned down on February 8, 1954. On that tragic day, there was a Zanana show happening inside while large crowds of young men gathered outside. The movie being shown was *Albela*, a 1951 Bollywood musical comedy directed by and starring Bhagwan Dada and Geeta Bali. The film was a box-office hit, and the cinema was packed with women, leading to a bit of a commotion.
Royal Cinema, the first luxurious cinema in East Africa, had been opened by Hassanali Adamjee Jariwalla and designed by J.H. Sinclair. When Majestic Cinema was built, it boasted a unique new architectural style with tiered balconies, the iconic flamingo emblem, a wide Cinemascope screen, stereophonic sound, and technicolor projection. It could accommodate 900 people and featured a spacious balcony. Tickets were sold by Aghuli, and there were often long queues, sometimes even leading to scuffles over tickets or the need to buy from the black market.
In addition to Majestic, there were three other major cinemas in Zanzibar at the time: Royal Cinema (1921), Emper Cinema (1939), and Sultana (Cine Afrique Malindi, 1951). All cinemas advertised their shows through school boards and public announcements. A famous figure, Chepe, would carry cinema billboards through the streets, ringing a bell and calling out showtimes like: “Tarana at 6 PM and 9 PM on Saturday, afternoon show at 3 PM, and Sunday morning show at 10 AM.” His enthusiastic announcements would include phrases like “fists flying like popcorn” or “one shilling all around!” Popular films shown included Bollywood, Arabic (Egyptian), and Western films.
Majestic Cinema was more than just a movie house. It had a bar (for licensed patrons), a restaurant, snack kiosks, a hotel later named Pigalle, Air Tanzania offices selling tickets, a café, and offices for Zanzibar University.
Since 1982, Abdullhussein Marashi has worked at Majestic Cinema, carrying on the legacy of his family by ensuring the cinema’s continued success. The building and its history will always be remembered for five notable figures: Dayalji, Aghuli, Golo, Chepe, and Khadija Abdillah.