Journey to the State House.
The Life of Seif Shariff Hamad depicts the long and winding story of one of Zanzibar’s most dedicated politicians.

ZG Films The Life of Seif Shariff Hamad – A Documentary on the Political Struggle of One Man and One Archipelago – is a film rich in historical insight and imagery. Journey to the State House: The Life of Seif Shariff Hamad depicts the long and winding story of one of Zanzibar’s most dedicated politicians. Brimming with accounts from politicians and observers alike, the film paints an insightful backdrop to the sheer political magnitude of Maalim Seif Shariff Hamad being elected into power by the Zanzibari people in 2010. The film is a celebration of his personal determination and participation in bringing peace to Zanzibar, and serves as an eye opener to those unfamiliar with the history of Tanzanian and Zanzibari politics.

Although topics discussed within the film are political, the film’s producer and director, Javed Jafferji, stresses that the overall aim is not so much political, as it is “a celebration of one man’s exceptional life and struggle, and the emphasis is on the importance of peace in Zanzibar.” Passionate about the story that he felt needed to be told, Jafferji and his team at ZG Films and Media House worked tirelessly for six months to document the referendum and general elections in Zanzibar which would change its political history forever, and to collect never before seen photographs, film and interviews for this fascinating documentary. Jafferji chose to tell this story so that Zanzibaris would spread the news of this monumental shift in Zanzibari politics further a field, to “spread the good news of what is happening on the islands.”

Following Maalim Seif for five months on the concluding leg of his twenty-two year long struggle from political outcast to becoming the very first 1st Vice President of Zanzibar, the 50 minute documentary covers not only his political life but his personal life too, from his happy childhood to his regrets as a father and husband. During almost three years as a prisoner of conscience (soon after being unexpectedly ejected from the Zanzibar government as Chief Minister as well as from CCM, the sole legal political party at the time, in 1988), and due to his own enduring commitment to the politics of the nation, both he and his family suffered greatly over the years.

Directed and Produced by most renowned photographer, businessman and filmmaker Javed Jafferji, this film aims to not only meet and surpass the current standard of filmmaking in Tanzania, but to raise the bar to such an extent that it re-invents the Tanzanian movie scene and ushers in a new era of worldclass film production in the country .

Journey to the State House