Entertainment
Awakening Through Music: An Interview with Tryphon Evarist
When Vitaly Bulavin, creator of the entrepreneurial training program “Space for Development”, traveled with his team to Tanzania, he met musician Tryphon Evarist at the Sauti za Busara festival — one of the key components of the training program. Tryphon’s performance deeply impressed Vitaly and the entire team, inspiring them to share this remarkable musician’s talent with the world, beginning with the release of his debut album. Vitaly and his group of participants raised the necessary funds, and in May 2025, Tryphon’s debut album AMKA was released.
Since 1991, Vitaly Bulavin has been leading programs aimed at developing entrepreneurial capacity in individuals and organizations. He is the author of the training program “Openness to the New”, launched in 2003 at the request of a major company and later conducted in Moscow, Kenya, Tanzania, and several European cities. He also founded the initiative “ART for Management” — exploring what entrepreneurs can learn from artists.
Vitaly graduated from the Moscow Institute of Fine Chemical Technology, later studied entrepreneurship at the Moscow School of Management, and completed internships in the USA, Japan, and Germany. In 1991, he founded the business school “Arsenal Managers’ School”, which he successfully sold in 2010 — completing the full cycle from business creation to sale.
What follows is our conversation with Tryphon Evarist about his journey, inspirations, and the meaning of AMKA.
Q: Could you tell us a bit about your background and your professional path in music?
A: “I grew up in Kizimbani, a village in Zanzibar, surrounded by music and traditional arts. In 2013 I joined the Dhow Countries Music Academy, where I studied accordion, qanun, drums, dance, and theory. After graduating with a diploma and ABRSM Grade 5 in Music Theory, I stayed on as a teacher. Today I’m the Artistic Director at DCMA — which means I spend my days performing, composing, and guiding young musicians.”
Q: How did you first come to songwriting and performing?
A: “Honestly, it all started with learning from my teachers — masters of instruments like the accordion and qanun. Soon after, I began playing at festivals such as Zanzibar International Film Festival and Sauti za Busara. From there, the journey just kept growing — I was lucky to perform in Kenya, Switzerland, Uganda, the UAE, and even the Comoros.”
Q: What inspires you the most in your creative process?
A: “For me, inspiration comes from the tradition itself. Taarab is part of who I am, and I feel responsible to keep it alive while also letting it grow. I love mixing Swahili heritage with modern sounds, finding new ways to express it. And I always remind myself — commitment, hard work, teamwork, and believing in yourself can take you anywhere.”
Q: Can you tell us about your team — who is beside you on this journey, and what role do they play?
A: “My team is really the community at DCMA and the ensembles I work with. On stage, it can be up to 14 people — singers, guitar, violin, saxophone, keyboards, accordion, qanun, drums. Each person adds their own voice and energy. It feels like a family that carries Swahili music forward together.”
Q: What are your current projects, concerts, or events you’re preparing for?
A: “The biggest news is my debut album AMKA, which came out in May 2025. Before that, I had released a few singles — Pambana, Sofia, Maneno Ya Kuambiwa, Nitakuoa, and Mbalamiago. And just recently I was back at Sauti za Busara, which is always special — it’s like performing at home, but with the whole world watching.”
Q: Your debut album AMKA has just been released. What does this album mean to you personally?
A: “The Amka album means a lot to me, because firstly it is my first music album in my life, but it is also an album that I have launched after 12 years since I joined the Zanzibar College of Music DCMA. Secondly it is an album that has given me great respect, in showing my musical greatness and my greatness in organizing such events. Thirdly it has marked me as the first musician from Zanzibar to hold a big and prestigious launch.”
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the title AMKA?
A: “Amka means wake up, this is an album that has launched with a mission to awaken listeners. Named after one of its standout tracks, AMKA — the album challenges the dominance of mainstream music promoted by TV and radios. It encourages audiences to open their ears and minds to the richness, uniqueness and depth of alternative musical styles. The album invites listeners to recognize and appreciate music beyond the commercial sphere, offering a fresh, powerful blend rooted in cultural authenticity and creative fusion.”
Q: Which track on the album feels the most personal or powerful for you, and why?
A: “All the songs that are on the Amka album have a realistic feel to them. But on my side, there is a song that when I sing it, I sing with a lot of emotion. The song is called Nivushe. Means Pass me. Because it is a song that I pray to my God to guide me safely through my life journey, so that I can fight and overcome all the obstacles that I face.”
Q: You’ve been praised for blending traditional Taarab with new elements. How does AMKA reflect that fusion?
A: “I am a musician who is currently responsible for flying the flag of traditional Taarab and Afro fusion music. So in any case, in some of my Fusion songs you will be able to hear the taste of Taarab even if it is a little bit, for example in the song Nivushe. I was able to use an instrument that is used in Traditional Taarab. But also even in the album itself, I did not stop showing the traditional music of where I come from, because the album was only for Afro fusion, but I also included my Traditional Taarab song. Not only that but even in my writing/lyrics I always look at all times. That is, the past, the present and the future.”
For Bulavin and his team, supporting Tryphon’s creativity became a natural extension of their philosophy: to foster growth, creativity, and the realization of meaningful projects.
Official links of Tryphon Evarist: