Sauti za Busara (in Swahili: "Sounds of Wisdom")Official site of Sauti za Busara
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African music The continent of Africa is vast and its music is diverse, with different regions and nations having many distinct musical traditions. African music includes the genres like makwaya, highlife, mbube, township music, jùjú, fuji, jaiva ...

festival A festival is an event celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, Melā, mela, or Muslim holidays, eid. A ...

, held every year in February in

Zanzibar Zanzibar is a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa. It is located in the Indian Ocean, and consists of many small Island, islands and two large ones: Unguja (the main island, referred to informally as Zanzibar) and Pemba Island. ...

Tanzania Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It is bordered by Uganda to the northwest; Kenya to the northeast; the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique and Malawi to t ...

. It is centred in the Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe), with fringe events taking place at the same time around

Stone Town Stonetown of Zanzibar (), also known as , is the old part of Zanzibar City, the main city of Zanzibar, in Tanzania. The newer portion of the city is known as Ng'ambo, Swahili for 'the other side'. Stone Town is located on the western coast of Un ...

- including a carnival street parade ('' Beni''). Sauti za Busara has become one of the largest music festivals in East Africa, with several hundreds of artists participating each year. It showcases a diverse and dynamic programme of exclusively African music and has over the years provided a stage for local Swahili talent, from

Taarab Taarab is a music genre popular in both Tanzania and Kenya. It has been influenced by the musical traditions of the African Great Lakes, North Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. Taarab rose to prominence in 1928 with the adv ...

legends like Bi Kidude and Culture Musical Club, to homegrown Tanzanian pop and hip-hop. The twelfth edition of the festival took place in 2015. However, the organisers have since announced their decision to cancel the 2016 edition due to shortage of funding. Despite the world-wide pandemic caused by Covid-19, the festival took place in February 2021. The festival continued to grow after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 and 2023 editions featured a mix of established and emerging African artists, with performances celebrating the region’s diverse musical heritage. In 2024, Sauti za Busara marked its 21st edition, highlighting themes of cultural resilience and unity. The 22nd edition of Sauti za Busara took place from February 14 to 16, 2025, in Stone Town, Zanzibar. The festival's theme, "Voices for Peace," underscored music's role in promoting unity and harmony. The lineup featured a diverse array of artists from across the African continent, including: * Thandiswa Mazwai (South Africa) * Blinky Bill (Kenya) * Christian Bella & Malaika Band (Tanzania) * Bokani Dyer (South Africa) * Frida Amani (Tanzania) * Wura Samba (Nigeria) * The Zawose Queens (Tanzania) * Kasiva Mutua (Kenya) * Zanzibar Taarab Heritage Ensemble (Zanzibar) * Leo Mkanyia & Swahili Blues (Tanzania) The festival kicked off with a vibrant carnival parade through Zanzibar's historic Stone Town, showcasing the island's rich culture and dynamic music scene. Performances spanned various musical styles, from traditional African rhythms to contemporary fusion, reflecting the continent's rich musical diversity.

References

Tourist attractions in Zanzibar Music festivals in Tanzania Music festivals in Africa Tanzanian music industry Performance art festivals {{Tanzania-stub

See also

References