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Greetings

Preparations are going well for the 6th edition of the festival; applications are pouring into the office from all corners of Africa and beyond and the line up for 2009 looks set to be the best ever!

Centred for four days in the historic Old Fort in Stone Town, the festival also features “Busara Xtra” fringe events around Zanzibar town, suburbs and rural locations. In all, more than four hundred musicians participate in the main festival, with a continuous daily programme of music from 4pm to 2am. Admission is free for all up until sunset.

As ever, thanks for your support and very best wishes

Yusuf Mahmoud, Festival Director

"With some forty acts to accommodate, Sauti za Busara was a musical buffet whose maitre-d’ refused to let the guests overeat on any particular dish." Arno Kopecky

Final Call for Artists

The final deadline for receiving applications from artists interested in performing at the next Sauti za Busara is 31 August 2008.

The sixth edition of Sauti za Busara [Sounds of Wisdom] music festival takes place in Zanzibar during 12 - 17 February 2009.

The main aim of the Festival is to bring people together in celebration of the wealth and diversity of Swahili music. Every year the festival features more than forty groups, including thirty from East Africa and ten from other parts of Africa and beyond.

This year, the festival is especially keen to encourage more applications from Ethiopia and Horn of Africa, Southern Africa as well as more traditional music groups from East Africa.

Please note that without receiving your application and at least one recent recording, the festival selection committee will not be able to consider your participation when it meets at beginning of September 2008.

You can apply online in English, Kiswahili and French.

Assuming your group is selected and that it is possible to find sponsors for international flights, the festival will cover costs for local travel, accommodation and meals in Zanzibar, a modest performance fee - and a magical and unforgettable experience is guaranteed!