NIce tribute to a such a Legend! Tanzania and the whole Swahili speaking community have lost an immense amount of knowledge on swahili culture. Hope his words will continue to live on with us forever through his poet!

The legendary poet Haji Gora Haji left this world on June 11, 2021. This is a great loss to Swahili culture and traditions, as Mzee Haji was the oldest living poet on the islands of Zanzibar. May he rest in poetry, may he return to the heaven of the seas. 

This song was composed and performed by Maembe Vitali, a beloved folk musician based in Bagamoyo, and shared widely over the weekend after Haji passed away. The song is called "Salamu kwa Haji" or "Greetings for Haji."

"Salamu kwa Haji Gora," Maembe Vitali's tribute to the late, great legendary poet Haji Gora Haji

The Green Road project has helped over 3,000 displaced Ukrainians find safe housing in ecovillages throughout Ukraine and across Europe — including the idyllic, rural community of Hallingelille, just outside of Ringsted, in Denmark. The project is a testament to the power of international friendships and networks in times of crisis.

A ‘green road’ leads displaced Ukrainians to shelter in ecovillages

At the 2023 Parliament of the World's Religions, Eileen Wolfington plays singing bowls and other sacred sounds to support a labyrinth walking meditation.

Singing bowls & chimes performed during walking meditation, Aug. 16, Chicago

Sikhs perform sacred music during a langar community lunch, Parliament of the World's Religions, Aug. 16, 2023.

Sacred music at a Sikh langar, Chicago, Aug. 16, 2023

On Rosh Hashana eve, cantor Layni Katz Myer sings "V'shamru," a beautiful shabbat song reminding the Jewish people of its covenant with God and our promise to guard the sabbath, during Makom Shalom Mitziut services, led by Rabbi Menachem Cohen, Sept. 15, 2023.

Cantor Layni Katz Myer sings "V'shamru" for shabbat 9/15

"Hot Bagels," by Nick Manning, Pratt Institute, part of the 16mm film collection at the Brooklyn Public Library's local history division.

"Hot Bagels"

Dad's classic jazz piano birthday rendition! 

Dad's Jazzy Birthday Tune

Darajani Sounds, Zanzibar 2017

Sokomuhogo Birds, 5:30 a.m. 2015

Stone Town Monsoon Sounds, Zanzibar, 2017

The sounds of women's shrieks on Sokomuhogo Street, Stone Town, 2017.

Sokomuhogo Street Shrieks, Stone Town, Zanzibar, 2017

I'm a writer & editor from Skokie, Illinois, obsessed with words, language and the poetry of vintage objects.

"Salamu kwa Haji Gora," Maembe Vitali's tribute to the late, great legendary poet Haji Gora Haji

Amanda Leigh Lichtenstein

Recent comments

Deejay Fuggaflex

Related tracks