Other programs

Other Programs at Soma Book Café

More ways we’re sparking feminist change.

Beyond our core initiatives like Vavagaa, Kestoria Kavazi, and the Anthology for Young Adults and Teenagers, Soma Book Café runs a variety of programs that empower communities, foster creativity, and provide resources for feminist learning. From our Feminist Resource Room to the Soma Writers’ Circle and Feminist Film Club, these programs expand our mission to amplify marginalized voices and create spaces for dialogue. Explore these initiatives and discover how you can join us in building a gender-just future.

Expanding Our Impact

At Soma Book Café, we believe in the power of diverse approaches to feminist change. While our core programs focus on dialogue, archiving, and youth storytelling, our additional programs bring new dimensions to our mission. The Feminist Resource Room provides a space for learning and research, the Soma Writers’ Circle nurtures feminist creativity, and the Feminist Film Club sparks dialogue through the arts. Together, these initiatives align with our Strategic Plan 2023-2027 goals of creating spaces for dialogue (Strategy 1) and fostering feminist content creation (Strategy 3). Dive into these programs to see how Soma is making a difference, one story at a time.

Feminist Resource Room: A Hub for Learning

The Feminist Resource Room at Soma Book Café is a treasure trove of feminist literature, research, and resources, open to all who seek to learn and grow. Located at our space in 6 Mlingotini Close, Dar es Salaam, the room houses a curated collection of books, journals, and digital materials on gender equality, women’s rights, and feminist theory. Since its establishment in 2018, it has welcomed over 500 visitors annually, including students, activists, and researchers. In 2023, a university student used our collection to research women’s land rights, later presenting her findings at a national conference. Visitors can also attend monthly reading groups, where we discuss works like We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. One regular attendee shared, “The Resource Room feels like a safe haven—I’ve learned so much about my own history as a woman.”

Impact Highlights:

Soma Writers’ Circle: Crafting Feminist Narratives

The Soma Writers’ Circle is a vibrant community for aspiring feminist writers to hone their craft, collaborate, and share their stories. Launched in 2021, this program hosts bi-monthly meetups at Soma Book Café, where writers of all ages participate in writing prompts, peer feedback sessions, and guest speaker events with established feminist authors. In 2023, our 25 regular members produced a zine titled Voices Unbound, featuring 15 pieces of poetry and short stories on themes like gender justice and resilience. One member, 28-year-old Neema, wrote a poem about her experience as a single mother, which she performed at a Soma event to an audience of 40 people. She shared, “The Writers’ Circle gave me the courage to share my story—I feel like I’ve found my voice.” In 2024, we introduced virtual meetups, allowing writers from across Tanzania to join, with one participant from Arusha saying, “I never thought I could be part of a feminist writing community from so far away.”

Impact Highlights:

Feminist Film Club: Stories on Screen

The Feminist Film Club brings the power of cinema to Soma Book Café, screening films that highlight feminist themes, women’s stories, and social justice issues. Each screening, held monthly in our multipurpose conference room, is followed by a facilitated discussion, creating a space for reflection and dialogue. Since starting in 2022, we’ve screened films like Rafiki (a Kenyan drama about queer love), The Women’s Balcony (an Israeli film on women’s resistance), and Persepolis (an animated film about a girl’s coming-of-age in Iran). In 2023, we welcomed 150 attendees across our screenings, sparking conversations on topics like queer rights, women’s agency, and cultural identity. One participant shared, “Watching Rafiki opened my eyes—I never thought about the challenges queer women face in my own community.” In 2024, we began partnering with local filmmakers to screen short films by Tanzanian women, amplifying their voices.

Impact Highlights:

Get Involved: Join the movement

Be part of Soma’s feminist storytelling revolution.

Have a story to tell? Share your experiences with us.

Follow Us on Social Media.

Volunteer with Us.

Support Soma’s mission by volunteering your skills.

Subscribe to our Newsletter 📬

Explore our programs

Our socials

Contact Information

© 2025 SOMA | All rights reserved | Powered by Exppo.