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| Latest festivals and events in Zanzibar |
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Thank you goes to Yusuf Mahmoud of Busara Promotions for bringing us all the latest on festivals and events going on in and around Zanzibar. We have outlined them below for you to have a look at, and perhaps attend whilst in Zanzibar. Any enquiries can be addressed to him at:
Busara Promotions
PO Box 3635
Zanzibar
Tanzania
Tel: +255 24 223 2423 (landline) or
+255 747 428478 (mobile)
Fax: +44 870 132 1190
e: or
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Dear music-lovers and friends of Zanzibar worldwide,
Greetings from Zanzibar and we hope that this note finds you all well.
By popular demand, here is an update for the many of you traveling to Zanzibar for Sauti za Busara (Sounds of Wisdom) Swahili Music Festival, taking place Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th February, 2005.
The main venue for this year’s festival is again in historic Stone Town: the grassy side of Zanzibar’s Old Fort (“Mambo Club”) facing Forodhani Gardens and overlooking the Indian Ocean. Fittingly described by Ian Anderson in fROOTS magazine as “the big club venue most world music festival organisers would die for”. Freshly grilled prawns, octopus, squid, fish kebabs are all prepared on site, with a bar and stalls selling local crafts.
The main aim of the festival is to showcase the wealth and diversity of Swahili music and we are proud to announce that many of East Africa’s finest groups are confirmed to participate:
FROM EAST AFRICA
DANCE / GUITAR BANDS: Kilimanjaro Band (“Wananjenje”), Zanzibar Moonlight Jazz Band
MUSIC FUSION: Saida Karoli, Manyani Nani, Sisi Tambala
HIPHOP AND URBAN MUSIC: Juma Nature & Wanaume, Wazenji Kijiwe, Klear Kut, Stara Thomas, Solo Thang, BTB, DJ Saleh
TAARAB & KIDUMBAK: Nadi Ikhwan Safaa (Malindi Taarab), Culture Musical Club, Segere Original, Sosoliso Kidumbak, Zein l’Abdin Trio, DCMA Student Group
NGOMA & TRADITIONAL MUSIC: Bi Kidude, Chibite Group, Beni ya Kilua, Black Roots, Jagwa Music (Mchiriku), Hiyari ya Moyowo (Kirumbizi), Imani Ngoma, Matimba Arts, Ngoma ya Kibati, Kidutani & Jang’ombe Nursery Schools
RELIGIOUS SUFI MUSIC: Maulidi ya Homu ya Mtendeni
THEATRE, COMEDY, ACROBATICS: Jambo Brothers, Halikuniki Comedy Group
FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD:
El Tanbura Group (Egypt), Seiyun Popular Arts (Yemen), Imena (Rwanda), Ndeef Leng (Senegal), Pamuzinda (Zimbabwe) (final festival programme pending 100% confirmations will be published end of January)
Guest of Honour for 2005 Festival is Bi Kidude, Zanzibar’s 93-year old cultural ambassador, traditional healer and bare-foot diva of taarab and unyago ngoma, who has been traveling the world to sing, drum and entertain since the 1920s.
TICKET INFO:
Free admission to all before 8pm daily (standing room only)
After 8pm, residents 500/-TSh (US$0.50) (standing room only)
After 8pm, non-residents 1,000/- TSh (US $1) (standing room only)
VIP Daily Pass 5,000/- (US $5) (with seating)
VIP All Festival Pass (4 Days) 10,000/- (US $10) (with seating)
On Stone Town Zanzibar: “The pace of life is gentle, time itself seems flexible, and a combination of the surroundings and a very low level of trading hassle from genuinely friendly locals turn it into the most relaxing, stress-reducing place I've ever encountered. Turn off your mobile phone: this town should be available on the National Health”.
Ian Anderson, fROOTS Magazine
Welcome to Zanzibar for the friendliest music festival on Planet Earth!
10 – 13 February, 2005 – Sauti za Busara Festival #2
09 – 12 February, 2006 – Sauti za Busara Festival #3
Full line up, timetable of performances, more information for press/media including pictures of many of the performing artists available on request.
Hotels are filling up fast for this period so be sure to book quickly if you need accommodation in Stone Town within walking distance of the Festival. For assistance with hotel bookings, local travel and tours contact [email protected] (cc to [email protected])
DJ YUSUF’S TOP 20 RECOMMENDED CD RELEASES OF 2004:
Mandekalou Mali/Guinea The Art & Soul Of The Mande Griots
Juma Nature Tanzania Ubin-Adam Kazi
Youssou Ndour Senegal Egypt
Various Artists Zanzibar Zanzibar: Soul & Rhythm
Les Garagistes Cote d’Ivoire Tapis Rouge
Ferooz Tanzania Safari
Missy Elliott USA This is Not a Test!
Konono No 1 DRC Congotronics
Nia Safi Group Zanzibar Kibati
Various Artists South Africa All the Hits, Vol 5
James Brown + Various USA/Japan Ultimate Remixes
Young Stars Modern Taarab Tanzania Segere 2
Gidigidi Majimaji Kenya Many Faces
Busi Mhlongo South Africa Freedom
Mangwair Tanzania Mikasi
Diego & Cigala Cuba/Spain Lagrimas Negras
Clotaire K Lebanon Lebanese
Various Artists Various Latin Club Sessions
Various Artists Jamaica Two Culture Clash
Michael Franti & Spearhead USA Everyone Deserves Music
SAUTI ZA BUSARA is organised by Busara Promotions - a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit cultural organisation registered in Zanzibar “to promote and develop opportunities for local and international music and performing artists within the East African region, work to strengthen the local arts infrastructure and build networks internationally, for the social, cultural and economic growth of Africa and the dhow region”.
Busara Promotions extends thanks to the following without whom the Festival would not be possible:
Ford Foundation, HIVOS, Mfuko wa Utamaduni Tanzania, Embassy of France,
Dhow Countries Music Academy, Memories of Zanzibar, fROOTS Magazine, Afropop Worldwide, Zanzibar Gallery, Zenj Travel & Tours, Alliance Francaise, Emerson & Green Hotel, Kidude Cafe, Countrywide Destination Tanzania, thephatplanet.com, and most of all to the people of Zanzibar: “Shukurani kwa kukubali kuwa tamasha hili ni letu sote na mchango wenu ndio ambao umelifanikisha.” |
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