Zanzibar Music Festival - Sauti za Busara
Zanzibar Music Festival - Sauti za Busara - February
Sauti za Busara means Sounds of Wisdom and is certainly growing into a music festival worthy of such a name. Held annually in Stone Town on the romantic island of Zanzibar, Sauti za Busara or Zanzibar Music Festival is a showcase for the best and most exciting of African music. The 2010 festival starts on the 11th of February. Originally focused on East African and Swahili music, the Zanzibar Music Festival now includes a range of international artists and musicians from West Africa, East Africa, Europe and more, brought together for a six-day extravaganza of world music and culture in a remarkably beautiful setting.
There are 40 groups of artists this year, which includes:
- Thandiswa From South Africa
- Malick?Path??Sow From Senegal
- Simba & Brown Band From Mozambique
- Debo??Band From Ethiopia and USA
- Ikwani?Safaa?Musical?Club?ft?Tamalyn?Dallal From Zanzibar and USA
- Tausi Women's Taarab From Zanzibar
- Mari Boine From Norway
- Dawda Jobarteh From The Gambia
- Del & Diho From Mayotte
- Fresh Jumbe & African Express From Tanzania and Japan
- Mim Suleiman From Zanzibar and UK
- Massar Egbari From Egypt
- Nyota Ndogo From Kenya
- Obibase From Guinea
- Sousou & Maher?Cissoko From Senegal and Sweden
- Xova From UK
- Kunja Dance Theatre From Kenya
- Sinachuki Kidumbak From Zanzibar
- Isaac Blackman & The Love Circle From Trinidad and Tobago
- Bamba Nazar & The Pilgrimage From Suriname/NL
- Jimmy Omonga From DRC/NL
- Joel Sebunjo & Sundiata From Uganda
- Makadem From Kenya
- Nass Makan From Egypt
- Maureen Lupo Lilanda From Zambia
- Juliana Kanyomozi From Uganda
- Mzungu Kichaa From Denmark and Tanzania
- Jhikoman From Tanzania
- Best of WaPi From Tanzania
- Shirikisho Sanaa From Zanzibar
- Tunda Man From Tanzania
- Sosolya Dance Academy From Uganda
- Mapacha Africa From Kenya
- Swifatui Abraar Group From Tanzania
- DJ Eddy From Zanzibar
- DJ Yusuf From Zanzibar and the UK
- Sowers Group From Tanzania
- Maia Von Lekow From Kenya
- Keita & Swahili Vibes From Zanzibar
- Tunaweza Band From Tanzania
- KVZ Tupendane from Pemba
Sauti za Busara is based within the Old Fort in Stone Town. The Old Fort was built around 1700 by the Omani Arabs, on the site of an old Portuguese church. It was used for years as a base from which to defend Stone Town from the invading Europeans, and eventually during the 19th century bcame used as a prison and place of execution! For a few years in the early 20th century the Old Fort was used as a depot for the railway, before its importance as a historical site was recognised and it was cleared out and given the recognition it deserves. Today the Old Fort is used as a cultural centre, hosting many Tanzanian drumming or dancing classes, films, music and dance events and much more. The crumbling stone battlements and cenellated towers provide incredibly atmospheric surroundings in which to hold a music festival. The lighting illuminates the ancient walls, and the sounds of African beats reverberate within the historical arena. Sauti za Busara could not have chosen a more perfect location in which to base the Zanzibar Music Festival.
Admission to this event is free to East Africa residents before and up to 5pm. Where after a ticket is required to partake in the event.
For more information on going to dance, listen and enjoy the experience of Sauti za Busara contact us.
