Singer Shilole speaks out after her restaurant was razed by protesters in Tanzania
By Ascah Mwango, December 18, 2025Tanzanian musician and entrepreneur Shilole, whose real name is Zena Yusuf Mohamed, has spoken out following the destruction of her popular restaurant, Shishi Food, which was vandalised and set ablaze during violent anti-government protests in Dar es Salaam.
Shilole visited the charred remains of her restaurant on Thursday, December 18, 2025, speaking candidly about the emotional toll the incident had taken on her.
“Inaumiza, yani inaumiza sana. Sipendi mara mingi kuja hapa siku hizi ata njia nimebadilisha. Lakini tutafanyaje, but tutarudi tu, insallah, kwa uwezo wa Mwenyezi Mungu. Tutainuka tena na watu watakuja hapa kwa uwezo wa Mwenyezi Mungu,” she said.
She continued: “Hasara ni kubwa sana, haiwezi kusemeka, kwa sababu kama unavyojua imepigwa chini kabisa yote, hakuna chochote tuliweza kuokoa. So tumeanza upya kabisa.”
The incident occurred in October 2025, amid a wave of violent protests sparked by the 2025 general elections, which saw the disqualification of key opposition candidates.
Demonstrators targeted Shilole due to her vocal support for President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the ruling CCM party, accusing her and other public figures of siding with the government rather than the citizens.
The restaurant was first vandalised and then completely burned down.
Reports indicate that other prominent Tanzanian celebrities, including rapper Billnass and singer Juma Jux, also suffered looting or destruction of their businesses during the unrest.
Shilole expressed her devastation over the loss, highlighting the years of hard work that went into building Shishi Food.
In various interviews and social media posts, she lamented the impact on her employees, who are now jobless, and stressed that while people are entitled to their opinions, targeting innocent businesses and livelihoods is not an acceptable form of political protest.
She also expressed shock that her support for the government could provoke such a violent backlash from the same public that has supported her music for years.
The destruction of Shishi Food has sparked widespread discussion on Tanzanian social media, raising questions about the intersection of celebrity influence, political alignment, and the safety of private property during periods of civil unrest.