If you’re a music festival lover and spending time in East Africa then the Sauti za Busara should be on your calendar to attend every year. Sauti za Busara (translation: sounds of wisdom) is a popular African music festival held annually in February in Zanzibar Island. There are very few music festivals in Africa, making this one very special as it lets visitors discover new voices of Africa. Sauti za Busara Festival is a perfect blend of old-fashioned African music and modern-day youthful music.
History of the Sauti za Busara Festival
The festival was first organized in 2003 by Yusuf Mahmoud, a UK-based music director. The festival then focused on the promotion of the abundantly versatile East African music. However, the festival has evolved tremendously over the years and now music from other African regions is also a part of the festival.
This makes it very special for tourists who want to enjoy a whole blend of African music in a single event. The quality of the event regarding performance stature and the level of artisans has greatly improved over the years and this attracts a whole lot of professionals and tourists from all over the world.
Performances at the Sauti Za Busara In 2018,
Image Source: MusicinAfrica.Net
Movers and Shakers at the Sauti za Busara Festival
A very interesting phase of this celebration of African music is “Movers and Shakers”. It is an informal network setting where people can interact with artisans and promoters from other parts of the world. There is a different theme each day, like ‘change’, ‘women and music’ etc. Such interactions create opportunities for various individuals, as it focuses on a few speeches and more time is allocated for Q & A sessions. This characterizes the wonderful African sky festival as not only an African music festival but also a socially-connective festival.
Carnival Parade
It is the largest street event in the city where artists, tourists and the masses get together for a walk in the streets of Zanzibar. People from all walks of life join the people enjoying the festival and it creates a great assembly consisting of colours of joy and happiness. Traffic is halted and the streets are rocked. That is what the Zanzibar music festival is all about!
In the middle of a set at the Sauti Za Busara festival of 2019,
Image Source: VibeTribe.Blog
Busara Xtra
Other than music, the festival also has some sideline activities such as art exhibitions, cinemas, orchestra, fashion shows and poetry competitions. All these activities are classified under Busara Xtra. So, you’re guaranteed to have a lot of fun at this lively event!
Sauti za Busara 2020 Event Details
- Dates: 13th February 2020 to 16th February 2020
- Location: Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania
- Musicians: More than 400
- Shows: 44
Performing at the Sauti Za Busara festival,
Image Source: MomoAfrica.com
Sauti za Busara 2020 Highlights
Tourists should look for the following in Sauti za Busara 2020:
- Live African music performances
- Carnival parade
- Delicious African food
- Fringe activities in Busara Xtra
Sauti za Busara 2020 Tickets
For international visitors, the price of a ticket is $120 if booked in advance and $140 if booked on the door. For VIP stands, the price is $180 in case of advance booking and $210 if booked on the door. Though Tanzanian citizens need to pay just $9 for the festival, Sauti za Busara 2020 ticket prices for African citizens is $60 in case of advance booking and $70 if booked on the door.
