Mihayo Kalaye - Visual / Performing artist

Mihayo Kalaye (b. 1996) is a Tanzanian visual and performing artist based in Dar es Salaam. His practice bridges African history, spirituality, and politics as tools for shaping decolonial dialogues within contemporary society. Rooted in critical inquiry, his work examines ideas of development and underdevelopment within Africa’s postcolonial condition and the ongoing realities of neocolonial influence. Central to Kalaye’s practice is an exploration of the relationship between government and citizen, and how this dynamic structures everyday life. By tracing present conditions back to Tanzania’s colonial history, he situates contemporary experiences within a longer historical continuum, questioning how colonial legacies continue to shape governance, power, and lived realities. Through this lens, he also interrogates the lived complexities and authenticity of Pan-Africanism in today’s global landscape. Working across mixed-media textile pieces, photography, video, and performance, Kalaye approaches art as a site of research and experimentation. His works function as spaces of inquiry rather than fixed conclusions, inviting audiences to critically engage with the manipulation of language, political and spiritual narratives, and shifting symbols of resistance in African societies. His work has been exhibited in Tanzania, Kenya, Germany, and the United Kingdom, including the solo exhibition Yesterday’s Price is Not Today’s Price. A recipient of the 2024 Prince Claus Seed Award and the Feel Free Grant by Nafasi Art Space, Kalaye continues to develop projects such as Alama za Nyakati, expanding personal and collective narratives within the contemporary African landscape.