HUKWE ZAWOSE MUSICAL RESIDENCY 2027

January–April 2027 | Bagamoyo, Tanzania

The Hukwe Zawose Foundation is opening a limited number of places for its 2027 Musical Residency Programme, running from January to April 2027.

This is a focused residency for musicians, composers, producers, sound artists, music researchers and cultural practitioners who want to spend time in Bagamoyo exploring African musical traditions, traditional instruments, composition, sound, recording and musical exchange.

Places are limited and offered through application and selection.

Applicants must identify a clear musical or research direction when applying. This allows the Foundation to determine the most appropriate accommodation, mentor, instruments and facilities for each resident.

Areas of Focus

Residents may focus on one or more of the following:

• Ilimba, large or small
• Zeze, large or small
• Ndono
• Marimba
• Mheme
• Ngoma and other East African drums
• African and East African percussion
• Traditional Gogo musicality and repertoire
• Song and rhythm
• Composition and songwriting
• Music production and recording
• Traditional instrument research
• African music research and documentation
• Sound and field recording
• Cross-cultural musical collaboration

Applicants may also propose another relevant area of musical practice or research.

---

RESIDENCY OPTIONS

We offer three different formats depending on the level of accommodation, mentorship and creative support required.

1. INTENSIVE MUSICAL RESIDENCY

USD 750 | 2 weeks

Our most comprehensive two-week residency package for artists seeking concentrated musical development, traditional instrument learning, mentorship, studio practice and creative exchange.

Accommodation

The package includes a private, self-contained room with:

• Private bedroom
• Private bathroom and toilet
• Quiet personal space

Traditional Instrument Access

Residents receive access to traditional musical instruments relevant to their approved area of focus, subject to availability and appropriate use.

Instruments may include:

• Ilimba, large and small
• Zeze, large and small
• Ndono
• Marimba
• Mheme
• Ngoma and other East African drums
• Other traditional Gogo instruments available through the Foundation

Instruments can be used for learning, practice, musical experimentation and, where appropriate, recording.

Studio Access

Residents receive 2 hours of studio access every weekday.

This provides up to 20 hours of studio access during the two-week residency, subject to scheduling.

The studio is intended for individual practice, experimentation, composition and basic recording.

The studio is a basic DIY recording environment rather than a commercial production facility.

One-to-One Mentorship

Residents receive 1 hour of scheduled individual mentorship every weekday.

This provides up to 10 hours of direct mentorship during the two-week residency.

The Foundation will identify an appropriate mentor according to the resident’s proposed area of focus.

Mentorship may include:

Msafiri Zawose

• Music and musical development
• Traditional instruments
• Drumming
• Traditional repertoire
• Performance
• Music production

Happy Zawose

• Mheme
• Drumming

Other members of the Zawose family, musicians, instrument makers or cultural practitioners may be involved where appropriate to the resident’s project.

Ongoing Mentor Access

In addition to scheduled mentorship sessions, residents can communicate with their designated mentor for questions and guidance during the residency, subject to the mentor’s availability.

Optional Informal Showcase

Where appropriate and if the resident is interested, the Foundation can help arrange a small informal sharing at the family home.

This could be:

• An acoustic performance
• A demonstration
• A presentation
• A listening session
• An informal sharing of work developed during the residency

Any showcase is optional and must be agreed in advance.

Basic Documentation Assistance

The Foundation can provide limited assistance with simple photographs or short video clips of the resident’s activities.

This is not professional photography, videography or film production.

Documentation requests should be communicated in advance so that arrangements can be made.

This package is best suited to:

Artists who want an intensive period of musical learning, traditional instrument exploration, mentorship, studio practice and creative development.

---

2. SUPPORTED MUSICAL RESIDENCY

USD 250 | 2 weeks

A lower-cost option for artists who want to work independently while receiving a smaller amount of structured support from the Foundation.

Accommodation

Accommodation is included for the full two-week residency.

Studio Access

Residents receive:

2 hours of studio access per week

This provides 4 hours of studio access over two weeks.

Mentorship

Residents receive:

1 hour of scheduled individual mentorship per week

This provides 2 hours of direct mentorship over two weeks.

The mentor will be selected according to the resident’s area of focus and availability.

Also included

• Access to relevant traditional musical instruments
• Basic orientation to the Foundation and its musical environment
• Access to relevant cultural and musical resources
• Basic local guidance

This is primarily a self-directed residency. Residents are responsible for developing their own daily work programme.

Additional studio time and mentorship can be booked separately.

This package is best suited to:

Musicians, sound artists and researchers who have a clear project and are comfortable working independently but want periodic access to mentorship and studio facilities.

---

3. ZAWOSE VILLAGE IMMERSION

USD 150 | 1 month

The Zawose Village Immersion is an independent living and cultural immersion option rather than a structured mentorship residency.

It is designed for artists, musicians and researchers who want to spend time within the Zawose family environment and independently explore Bagamoyo, Gogo culture, music and community life.

Accommodation

The resident stays in a private room within a Zawose family homestead.

The room:

• Has its own door and key
• Is privately occupied
• Is situated within a larger family compound
• Has access to a shared outdoor bathroom and toilet

This is simple village accommodation and should be understood as an immersion experience rather than serviced accommodation.

Included

Accommodation only.

The following are not included:

• Studio access
• Individual mentorship
• Instrument lessons
• Structured programme activities
• Professional documentation
• Meals

These can be arranged separately according to availability.

This package is best suited to:

• Independent researchers
• Ethnomusicologists
• Musicians
• Cultural researchers
• Artists interested in community immersion
• Artists who prefer self-directed exploration

---

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

Residents can book additional services according to availability.

Studio Access

USD 15 per hour

The Foundation studio provides basic DIY recording facilities, which may include:

• Computer
• Audio interface
• Studio monitors
• Microphone
• Basic recording equipment

The studio is suitable for experimentation, practice and basic recording. It is not a commercial recording studio or full professional production facility.

Individual Mentorship

USD 30 per hour

Additional one-to-one mentorship can be arranged with an appropriate musician, instrument specialist or cultural practitioner, subject to availability.

Mentorship may cover:

• Instrument technique
• Traditional repertoire
• Rhythm and percussion
• Gogo musical traditions
• Composition
• Performance
• Music production
• Cultural context

---

A SELF-DIRECTED MUSICAL RESIDENCY

The Musical Residency is self-directed but supported.

The Foundation does not impose a fixed daily programme. Each resident develops their own work according to their project, interests and agreed areas of engagement.

Residents may combine:

Independent practice + instrument learning + mentorship + studio work + research + musical exchange.

The level of structured support depends on the package selected.

Applicants should therefore be clear about what they want to achieve during their residency.

For example, an applicant may wish to spend two weeks studying the large ilimba, learning traditional repertoire from Zawose musicians and developing new compositions incorporating the instrument.

Another artist may want to research East African drumming traditions, work with Mheme and other percussion instruments, and record material for a new composition.

Another may prefer to spend a month living within the Zawose family environment while independently conducting ethnomusicological or cultural research.

The programme can accommodate different approaches, provided the proposed work is relevant to the Foundation’s musical and cultural environment.

---

WHO CAN APPLY?

The programme welcomes applications from:

• Musicians
• Singers and vocalists
• Instrumentalists
• Composers
• Producers
• Sound artists
• Traditional musicians
• Music researchers
• Ethnomusicologists
• Interdisciplinary artists with a substantial musical practice

African and international applicants are welcome.

---

APPLICATION AND SELECTION

Places are limited.

Applicants should email:

zawosefoundation@gmail.com

with:

1. A short biography
2. Links to musical work or portfolio
3. Preferred residency dates
4. Preferred residency package
5. Proposed musical or research focus
6. What they hope to learn, develop or produce
7. Preferred instruments or areas of musical exploration
8. Any studio, mentorship or collaboration requirements
9. Funding status or funding plan

Applications are reviewed individually.

Acceptance depends on:

• The suitability and clarity of the proposed project
• Relevance to the Foundation’s musical and cultural environment
• Availability of accommodation and facilities
• Mentor availability
• The Foundation’s capacity to support the proposed work

Submitting an application does not guarantee a residency place.

---

RESIDENCY PERIOD

The 2027 Musical Residency runs from:

January to April 2027

Specific dates and duration are agreed with successful applicants based on availability.

Because places are limited, applicants are encouraged to apply early.

---

FUNDING AND EXPENSES

The Musical Residency is a self-funded or externally funded programme.

The Foundation does not provide travel grants, flights, visas, artist fees or living allowances.

Residents are responsible for:

• Travel to and from Bagamoyo
• Visa and immigration costs
• Meals
• Personal expenses
• Project materials
• Additional services not included in their selected package

The Foundation can provide residency confirmation and supporting documentation for artists seeking external funding, where appropriate.

Any activity requiring specialised personnel, equipment, transport, external venues or additional production support will be discussed and priced separately before the activity takes place.

---

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The residency fees cover only the services specifically stated under each package.

The Foundation’s role is to provide an appropriate environment for musical learning, research, practice, exchange and creative development.

Residents are expected to approach the musical traditions, instruments, artists and community with respect and cultural sensitivity.

The programme encourages genuine exchange rather than passive cultural consumption. Residents are expected to take responsibility for their own creative process while making appropriate use of the resources, knowledge and relationships available through the Foundation.

Applications are now open for the January–April 2027 Musical Residency period.

Email: zawosefoundation@gmail.com
Website: https://hukwezawosefoundation.org/