Emerson D. Skeens

Emerson Skeens, owner of the famous new hotel "Emerson Spice", has lived in Zanzibar since 1990. He is an Educational Therapist from New York originally, but has long moved on to another 50+ professions, including that of mover and shaker. He initiated the ZIFF Festival of the Dhow Countries where he served as chairman of the board for many years. He also had the initial idea for the Dhow Countries Music Academy and managed to activate the right people and funds to make this idea become reality. He remains an inspiration and fountain of ideas for the island.