Sauti ya Busara set for this weekend in Zanzibar - February 11 - 13, 2022

Sauti ya Busara is an annual music festival that takes place every February in Stone Town, Zanzibar. The festival is this weekend, and will feature artists from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Congo, South Africa, Australia, Reunion Island, Tanzania and Zanzibar. The music is diverse, ranging from traditional African music to electro urban fusion and hiphop.

The festival takes place in Stone Town’s Old Fort, the oldest structure in Zanzibar and a major tourist attraction. After ousting the Portuguese from Zanzibar, the Omani Arabs built the fort in 1699. The fort has been used in many ways over the years: as a prison in the 19th century, and a railway terminal, ladies’ club and amphitheater in the 20th century. These days, the fort serves as a cultural center and as the headquarters of the Zanzibar International Film Festival.

Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a mostly intact example of a coastal Swahili trading town. Its culture, cuisine and architecture reflect centuries of influence from Africa, the Arab world, India and Europe.

Want to know more about Stone Town, read our Streets of Stone Town blog post.