Sauti za Busara Music Festival 2012

The ninth Sauti za Busara (Sounds of Wisdom) Music Festival takes place in Zanzibar, Tanzania from Wednesday 8th to Sunday 12th February 2012. There is a continuous daily programme of music starting in the late afternoon, as the sunshine softens and shadows start to stretch out, and continuing virtually non-stop into the evening, with the final band taking to the stage around midnight.

Line-up

Jagwa Music (Tanzania); Super Mazembe (DRC / Kenya); Lady Jaydee (Tanzania); Nneka (Nigeria); Tumi & The Volume (South Africa); Ary Morais (Cape Verde); Companhia Nacional de Canto e Dança (Mozambique); Bi Kidude (Zanzibar); Tausi Women's Taarab (Zanzibar); Ndere Troupe (Uganda); Lumumba Theatre Group (Tanzania); Ogoya Nengo (Kenya); Chébli Msaïdie (Comoros); Kozman Ti Dalon (Reunion); Skuli ya Kiongoni (Zanzibar); Kidumbaki JKU (Zanzibar); Utamaduni JKU (Zanzibar); Shirikisho Sanaa (Zanzibar); Seven Survivor (Tanzania); Tunaweza Band (Tanzania) Hanitra (Madagascar) Jembe Culture Group (Tanzania); Leo Mkanyia (Tanzania); Swahili Vibes Band (Zanzibar) Qwela (Uganda); Tandaa Traditional Group (Zanzibar); Wanafunzi wa SOS (Zanzibar); and more artists being confirmed.

From Wednesday through until Sunday, around eight groups perform each day. Big names rub shoulders with upcoming artists. There are thirty of the best groups of Zanzibar, Tanzania and East Africa, with another ten groups in 2011 representing Ethiopia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, La Réunion, Madagascar, Mauritius, Ghana, Mali and Senegal. Most concerts are in historic Stone Town supplemented with fringe events around town and across the island including a festival street parade.

Tickets

Admission is FREE to local people until 6pm, then around €1 (one euro). Prices vary for citizens, residents, and visitors. Prices are not yet confirmed. There is NO allocated seating. International visitors tend to buy five-day passes and wander in and out as they choose. These are available from the Old Fort daily from Tuesday 7th February 2012.

To buy a five day pass online, priced at $86 (approx £54), To buy tickets, click here.

Accommodation

The festival does not have a campsite, and there is a good range of accommodation options in and around Stone Town.

Flights

Zanzibar has international scheduled flights, or there are international flights to Dar es Salaam. Zanzibar has international scheduled flights served by Ethiopian Airlines, and Kenya Airways. Also regional flights served by Fly540, Precision Air, Air Uganda, and 1time (South Africa). Alternatively, Dar es Salaam is served by British Airways, KLM, Swiss Air, South African Airways and Emirates. There are then internal flights or ferries from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar.

Ferries

Zanzibar is served by a number of ferry companies to/from Dar es Salaam. There are several fast (2hr) hydrofoil crossings daily plus several slower (4hr) vessels. Non Residents should expect to pay up to US$50 incl port tax one-way.

Visas

The requirements and rules regarding visas vary according to your nationality and country of residence. Please check well in advance.

More information will be here when available.

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