Sauti za Busara Festival honours the vitality of live performances

In the vibrant heart of East Africa, the Sauti za Busara Music Festival has become a melting pot of musical diversity with its annual celebration of the rich tapestry of African rhythms and melodies.

As they celebrate the 21st edition of the festival with the theme ‘Moving Diversity’, this year the festival is going to celebrate live performances from Africa’s finest emerging music talents from the region and beyond.

In celebration of diversity and musical richness, Zanzibar is poised to host the 2024 edition of the Extravaganza from February 9 to 11 at Stone Town in Unguja.

For the past several years, the Sauti za Busara Festival has provided a dedicated platform for Singeli artistes, citing their unparalleled live performance skills as the driving force behind this exclusive showcase.

Singeli, a genre that originated in the streets of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is known for its rapid beats, catchy hooks, and socially relevant lyrics.

It has rapidly gained popularity not only in Tanzania but also across East Africa.

What sets Singeli apart, however, is not just its infectious sound but the sheer dynamism and intensity that come to life when experienced live.

Local Singeli artistes, such as Dulla Makabilla, Tamimu and Sholo Mwamba, have become synonymous with the festival’s showcase.

Their ability to command the stage and engage with the audience has played a pivotal role in establishing Singeli as a festival favourite.

According to the Marketing and Communication Manager at Sauti za Busara, Zakia Lulu, most Bongo Flava artistes lag behind when it comes to live performances with bands.

“When it’s time to work with the bands, Singeli artistes perform better on stage and most of them have live performance experiences outside Sauti za Busara,”Ms Lulu explains.

She adds that the festival organisers select artistes based on their applications

“One of the rules is to have a background of live performance with a band. So you find out some of the Bongo Flava artistes fail to qualify in that category,” she shares.

With close to 500 applications, 25 groups were selected for the 2024 edition, among them, nine artistes will represent Tanzania.

These include Singeli singers Sholo Mwamba and Tamimu hip-hop artiste Wakazi, Mubba, Lwendo Afrika, Warriors from the East, Africulture, Siti and the Band, and Brainy Boy.

A closer look at the line-up shows that it’s about the live performance and diversity as the theme of this year’s edition.

Apart from the nine, this year’s artiste line-up for the festival’s 21st edition boasts a diverse ensemble of both established and up-and-coming musicians hailing from various corners of the African continent and its diaspora.

Describing their selection, the organisers declared it to be a sonic voyage across Africa, encompassing the lively rhythms of the East, the soulful melodies of the North, the high-energy beats of the South, and the entrancing sounds of the West.

Notably, the 2024 festival will mark the stewardship of Lorenz Herrmann, who assumes the role of the new managing director, succeeding the founder and CEO, Yusuf Mahmoud, who retired after an illustrious 20-year tenure in July.

Bibi Maisam, long-time attendee of the festival shares her excitement for the 2024 Sauti za Busara.

She shares, “This festival, Sauti ya Busara, has allowed me to meet significant players in the music industry, individuals who have provided me with many opportunities. Additionally, It’s the only place where you get the chance to listen to authentic music and witness and enjoy artistes’ live performance skills,”.

In the same vein, Nancie Mnaro expresses how excited she is to attend Sauti za Busara festival for the second time.

She mentions that she thoroughly enjoyed live music and can’t wait to see other artistes perform, both from within and outside Tanzania.

The theme for this 21st edition is aptly titled “Moving Diversity.”

Sauti za Busara festival director, Journey Ramadhan, emphasised their commitment to celebrating live music from across Africa and beyond.

He also points out that this year’s spotlight would once again shine brightly on women artistes and young, emerging talents, known for their unique sounds, compelling messages, and electrifying stage presence.

For three days, two stages inside the Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe), Kisonge and one free stage in the Forodhani Gardens, located just outside the Old Fort, will host thrilling and one-of-a-kind performances.

Some of the remarkable artiste line-ups for Sauti za Busara 2024 include Mádé Kuti & The Movement (Nigeria), Zoë Modiga (South Africa), and The Brother Moves On (South Africa). Sholo Mwamba (Tanzania),Tamimu (Tanzania), Siti & The Band (Tanzania),Wakazi (Tanzania), Warrior from the East (Tanzania).

Africulture (Tanzania), Lwendo Afrika (Tanzania),Brain Boy (Tanzania),Mubba (Tanzania), Stewart Sukuma and Banda Nkhuvu (Mozambique), Selmor Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe),Muhonja (Kenya), Francesco Nchikala (DRC/Zambia),Aliddeki Brian (Uganda),Flying Bantu (Zimbabwe) and Mary Anibal (Zimbabwe),

Others are The Brother Moves On (South Africa), Stewart Sukuma and Band Nkuvu from Mozambique, Francesco Nchikala (Congo), Muhonja, Anuang’a, and Maasai vocals (Kenya), Afropenetration (Ethiopia and Niger), Ita and Mehdy (Algeria), Aliddeki Brian (Ugand), Sibu Manai, and Dogo Fara (Reunion Island).

Beyond the headliners, the festival boasts a diverse array of twenty-five musical groups, each representing a rich tapestry of global sounds.

Different activities are expected on the 21st edition of the festival, which include Movers and Shakers, a panel discussion happening during the festival days, and the carnival street parade that will start in Kisonge towards Old Fort in Stone Town.

Busara Xtra, Swahili encounters, the return of Busara’s free stage in Forodhani gardens, and special events involving tree planting in Muyuni Forest, which is located in the southern part of Unguja.

Since its launch in 2004, Sauti za Busara has encouraged an enormous number of visitors from across the globe, and some of them have become permanent members who come year after year.

“This isn’t our success alone; it’s for everyone who makes the festival happen in one way or another,” says Mr. Ramadhan.

The extravaganza promises to be a musical celebration like no other, a convergence of diverse talent from across the African continent and the wider world, all set against the backdrop of Stone Town’s rich cultural tapestry.