Every February, the Old Fort in Zanzibar’s Stone Town fills with music. Taarab orchestras play beside reggae bands, Congolese guitarists and young Tanzanian rappers. The crowd includes islanders, mainland Tanzanians and visitors from around the world. Sauti za Busara, Swahili for “sounds of wisdom”, has become one of Africa’s best-known music festivals since its first edition in 2004.
Founding and the pan-African line-up
The festival was launched in 2004 by Busara Promotions, a Zanzibar-based organisation. Most concerts take place in the Old Fort, a seventeenth-century building in Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The festival focuses on music from Africa, giving a stage to established and emerging artists.
Zanzibar’s own taarab, an orchestral style blending Swahili, Arab and Indian influences, is one of the most anticipated parts of the programme. Tanzanian bongo flava and hip hop artists also perform. Artists come from across East, West, Central and Southern Africa. The festival often opens with a street carnival through Stone Town.
Tourism, funding and atmosphere
The festival brings visitors to Zanzibar during the dry season, supporting hotels and businesses. Like many African festivals, Sauti za Busara has faced funding difficulties and has appealed for support. The festival has run networking sessions for music industry professionals, connecting artists with promoters and festival bookers from other countries. Visitors often describe the festival as relaxed and friendly, with a mix of locals and travellers.
The festival has launched international careers for several East African artists. Visitors usually combine the festival with time on Zanzibar’s beaches and in Stone Town’s markets and historic buildings. Accommodation fills up quickly during festival week, so booking early is wise.
Local audiences and volunteers
Organisers have tried to keep ticket prices low for Zanzibari residents, so the festival remains a local event as well as an international one. Songs are performed in Swahili and many other African languages, and audiences dance whether or not they understand the words. Zanzibar has a long musical history, from taarab clubs to drumming groups, which gives the festival deep local roots.
Local volunteers help run the festival each year. Zanzibar’s Old Fort was built for defence. For a few nights every February, it welcomes musicians from all over Africa.
