2025 Year End Recap
- Voice of Maasai
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Dear Friends, Supporters & Collaborators,
As we close out 2025 with our year-end recap, I’m filled with gratitude for the journey we’ve shared. This has been a year of creative expansion and meaningful collaboration, made even richer by the reflective work of writing the book and revisiting the early footprints of this story.
I wanted to provide a brief update: I will be pausing the production of physical newsletters in 2025. This year, my creative energy is directed towards one significant project - the book - a memoir at the intersection of art, ethics, and cross-cultural collaboration. So stay close. The reveal is coming.
Your support is invaluable, and I’m thrilled to have you with me as this new chapter (quite literally!) unfolds. I’ll keep sharing progress and inspiration through digital updates, including this layout teaser below.
Heartfelt Reflection About the World Around Us
This November brought an unexpectedly swift and unsettled election cycle in Tanzania, shaping the emotional landscape of the season for many. In times of rapid change or uncertainty, creative work becomes a quiet anchor; a place to stay connected, reflective, and steady.
This year also carried moments of personal loss within our team and extended community. We moved through those tender spaces together, offering care, compassion, and presence where it was needed. These experiences reminded us of life’s fragility and of the strength that rises when community meets hardship with kindness.
2025 Highlights from Voice of Maasai
Before we step into what’s next, let’s pause and celebrate the highlights of the year behind us.
January 28
We launched new Afropop, Ngoma Yetu, ft Attu Medicine, a fresh single from our label that bridged Tanzanian rhythms with Maasai themes. Skillfully, Attu combines contemporary African melodies with lively rhythm's to create an inviting cultural experience.
February 21
The release of the EP Viva Mama marked a tribute to matriarchs in Maasailand and the vibrant creative energy of our artists. We emphasized respect for heritage and layered new sonic textures, a step forward for our brand identity.
April 30
The blog piece Rectify Colonial Misconceptions: Classification of Maasai People tackled crucial cultural narratives and advanced our commitment to authenticity. This sparked meaningful conversations in our network about representation, storytelling and equity.
May 28
Learning, Sharing, Connecting: Pendo’s Musical Love Letter to Tanzania put the spotlight on our artist collaborations and cross-border creative bridges. It underscores our ethos: collaboration as currency, not competition.
October 28
I revealed the forthcoming memoir: What You Can Expect - marking a significant shift in both my personal and professional life. With my focus directed towards the book, the previously mentioned newsletter pause in 2025 takes on greater significance.
Outstanding Team Member
Team Spotlight: Attu Medicine
Since joining Voice of Maasai, Attu Medicine has stood out not just for her voice, but for the spirit and resilience she brings to every note.
Her strengths:
Resilience: She transformed adversity into purpose, using her voice as healing and connection.
Leadership: As a woman, she models professional artistry, cultural pride, and personal courage.
Collaboration: She invites co-creation rather than competition, embracing cross-cultural bridges that align with our label’s values.
Authenticity: She doesn’t just perform; she bears witness — to heritage, to identity, and to the creative possibilities when women step into their fullest expression.
Why we’re grateful:
Attu doesn’t just add talent to our roster - she adds heart. Her presence reminds us that Voice of Maasai is more than a label; it’s a community of storytellers, creators and culture-builders. She amplifies our vision through both her music and her example.
In her own words:
“Family and friends would say my voice healed them, made them feel good — it was their medicine.”
Join us in celebrating Attu Medicine - If you’d like to support Attu’s artistry, one of the best ways is to download her music and help amplify her work.
Looking Ahead to 2026
2026 will be a year of focus and depth as I pour my energy into publishing the memoir and additional projects designed to honor our past, clarify our systems, and serve our next decade of growth.
You can expect:
Continued digital updates as the book takes shape
Expanded storytelling around our artists and cultural partners
New creative music and campaigns rooted in authenticity, equity, and heritage
A stronger-than-ever creative ecosystem between Tanzania and the U.S.
Thank You - 2025 Year End Recap
Voice of Maasai creates uplifting East African music through co-writes, collaborations, and shared storytelling. By connecting a global audience with emerging Maasai talent, we offer an authentic, nuanced window into life on the Savannah - using music as both a bridge and a bond.
To those who have downloaded our songs, we hope they’ve brightened a moment, lifted a spirit, or simply made your ears dance with joy.
To those who have contributed financially, may you feel a quiet pride knowing your support fuels award-winning music and empowers real people behind the sound.
To those who have sent words of encouragement, your messages arrive like small lanterns on the days when the path feels heavy.
And to those who have taken the time to learn more, thank you - your curiosity helps light a wider, more connected world.
Many thanks for being part of this journey - Ashe Naleng!
Jessey Jansen