Sauti za Busara Festival 2020 in Stone Town, Zanzibar

A four-day African musical affair, Sauti za Busara Festival (Sounds of wisdom ) in Zanzibar promises you yet another riveting experience in celebration of African music in 2020 the Zanzibari style!

Its 17th edition in 2020 will go down from February13-16 with a special theme – ‘Love Live music’ – something that organisers of the event say is driven by the human aspect of being drawn to live performances.

The festival’s director Yusuf Mahmoud in an interview with the Beat recently said that live music performances have a positive effect on the mental wellness of fans, happiness, unity and empathy which the organizers are keen on achieving through this year’s festival.

The first day of the festival held in the thrilling Stone Town is flanked by the explosive carnival parade, a street-like fete that begins at Mapinduzi Square, Michenzani through to Forodhani Gardens.

Over the years, the carnival parade marked by a kaleidoscope of colours across the streets of Stone Town has managed to incorporate different themes and culture. This year’s Sauti za Busara Festival will feature over 20 performing arts groups from Zanzibar, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco. Drummers, dancers, beni brass bands, sound systems, acrobats, fire eaters among others give the best to the attendee’s d visitors from abroad.

Live performances from over 400 renowned musicians follow thereafter for 4 days and nights. In the spirit of promoting African music and Zanzibar’s culture, the Swahili Encounter segment during the festival plays a crucial role in enhancing this. Through it, different artists from diverse backgrounds have an opportunity to interact and exchange ideas.

Sauti Za Busara Festival [Photo by according to Jerri]

Just before the festival ends, these artistes compose, and perform; it is a key highlight for many artistes who grow their musical career through the Sauti za Busara Festival. Movers and Shakers segment of the festival addresses challenges dogging East African musicians, both male and female and holds debates in the effort to get solutions, giving the artistes a rich networking platform amongst themselves.

The official after-party for the festival crowns it all; the jam sessions by artistes performing songs different genres rock festivals as the young and old while the night away.