The Wow Festival!
30 shows, 3 days, 4 stages
Wow, what a festival! “Sauti za Busara” 2025 looks spectacular. With a record crowd of 22,000 people expected and an eclectic mix of African artists, Zanzibar is once more awash with music and culture. Join the fun!
The big cultural celebration
New young-generation musicians – Entertainment at renovated Old Fort
Called the friendliest festival on the planet, a revamped Sauti za Busara is on the way. The unprecedented party is set to shake the Old Fort’s walls from 14-16 February, 2025.
Musically, the 2025 line-up of more than 25 bands from 12 countries is an eclectic all-genre-medley from traditional to urban-contemporary. Especially young generation musicians like Tanzanian new-school hip hop artist Frida Amani and the South African Ukhoikhoi duo with electronic loops and opera freedom singing are coming to the forefront. Head-liner Thandiswa, 48, also from South Africa, is one of the most influential post-Apartheid singers, blending Kwaito dance music, Khosa music and jazz. “Some call her the new Miriam Makeba”, said Yussuf Mahmoud, longtime former Busara director. On the other side of the musical spectrum, Blinky Bill from Kenya presents a smashing urban-contemporary Afrobeat with a jazzy horn section. Among other diverse artists are Christian Bella, a Congolese singer based in Tanzania and Zanzibar’s own Taarab Heritage Ensemble uniting all divas and maestros of the genre.
Additional action-packed entertainment takes place at the free Busara+ gig in Fumba Town, on Saturday, 15 February. all day long. Top acts Blinky Bill, Ukhoikhoi and Zawose Queens will perform at the satellite event, this time showcasing three cultural happenings in one: the Busara+ extra concert, the popular Kwetu Kwenu community market with dozens of fashion and food vendors and – for the first time in Zanzibar! – a mural art festival with street artists from all over East Africa (see article below). A free bus shuttle takes fans to the eco-town, 20 minutes from Zanzibar city. Fumba Town developer CPS is the main sponsor of Busara; director Tobias Dietzold said: “We can’t wait to see the outstanding young performers in Fumba, and invite everybody in Zanzibar to celebrate African culture with us.”
Other breaking news may affect the Busara festival in the long run. Due to major restorations of historic places in Stone Town (see sidebar below), the annual music event might have to move from the Old Fort. In 2025, however, the festival still takes place in the iconic surroundings. “Visitors will even have an enhanced experience with some new settings”, explained Busara Promotions director Lorenz Herrmann, 35, who took over last year from Yussuf Mahmoud, 62. Among the new features:
- covered bar & lounge outside the fort on the parking lot
- newly restored amphitheatre with better seating & new bathrooms
- fast-track electronic ticket scanning & cashless payments
- large VIP area inside
- live streaming of the entire festival
For 22 years in a row, African music under African skies, as Busara is often called, has been a huge success and attracted thousands of additional tourists. It is on a par with the Bushfire Festival in Eswatini, AfrikaBurn in South Africa and the legendary former Tuareg ‘Festival au Désert’ which was discontinued due to political conflict a decade ago. Sauti za Busara means ‘sounds of wisdom’ in Swahili.
Get your tickets here:
Sauti za Busara, 14-16 February 2025 Tickets: TZS 30,000 for locals, $75 residents, $149 international, $209 VIPbusaramusic.org, who founded one of Africa’s longest standing music events in 2003.
busaramusic.org.www
Work in Progress: Zanzibar’s make-over
Dubai firm Infinity Development has been entrusted to modernise a handful of Zanzibar’s most historic sites – the amphitheatre in the Old Fort (photo) is currently being done. Among the sites are: Zanzibar’s Old Fort, known as ‘Ngome Kongwe’, built 1698-1701 by Oman; the High Court, to be turned into a “Judicial Museum” and the seafront of Africa House. Stone Town is a world heritage site protected by UNESCO since 2000. “We are seeking to balance historic significance with modern amenities and attractions”, the developers of the major make-over have said.
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