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Fumba Town & Sauti za Busara Partnership Brings Together Thousands of Enthusiasts And Performers From Across Africa And The world To Tanzania

Celebrating the richness and diversity of African music and heritage

THANDISIZWE MGUDLWA

Zanzibar’s new eco-town development Fumba Town, a project by developer
CPS, this week announced that it is joining forces with Sauti za
Busara.

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The group also becomes the main sponsor for East Africa’s most
prominent international music festival in Zanzibar.

“Busara Promotions is delighted to announce its core operational
expenses for the next three years will largely be covered by CPS, and
by that, Fumba Town is becoming the main festival partner and
sponsor.” Yusuf Mahmoud, CEO and Festival Director of Sauti za Busara,
announced yesterday. He added that Sauti za Busara would not be
possible without partners and sponsors such as CPS, the company
developing Fumba Town. This new strong partnership will ensure that
the internationally renowned Festival will carry on its journey and
continue to attract thousands of visitors to Zanzibar. The Norwegian
Embassy previously supported the Festival from 2009 until March 2022.
When this and other sponsors withdrew earlier this year, the widely
acclaimed African Festival was in danger of being discontinued.

Moreover, according to organizers, this upcoming Festival will be
Sauti za Busara’s 20th-Anniversary edition. Except for 2016, the music
event held at the historic Old Fort in UNESCO-protected Stone Town has
never failed to be held, even during two years of the coronavirus
crisis. It attracts up to 20,000 visitors over three to four days – a
major booster for Zanzibar tourism for two decades. “The festival has
been a vital part of Zanzibar’s culture”, said Tobias Dietzold, Chief
Commercial Officer of CPS: “It brings together people from all walks
of life, promoting strong, peaceful and resilient communities.”
Dietzold added: “This is what we stand for at Fumba Town and CPS, and
therefore we are grateful to be able to contribute our part. The
private sector must take responsibility to support initiatives like
this.”

And among many colourful and diverse acts performing at Busara in
recent years were Sampa The Great (Zambia), Nneka (Nigeria), BCUC
(South Africa) and Blitz the Ambassador (Ghana/USA). Under the
inspiring guidance of festival director and music lover Yusuf Mahmoud,
the Festival has focussed on women entertainers as well as young and
upcoming acts. The cosmopolitan island of Zanzibar has a strong
cultural connection. There is a saying: “When the flute plays in
Zanzibar, the whole of Africa dances.”

“We are committed to keeping the Sauti za Busara festival robust and
dynamic for the next few years as we enjoy our rich and diverse
cultural heritage through live music,” CPS director Dietzold stressed.

“Through this partnership, we want to ensure that, at the minimum, the
next three Busara festivals and the culture surrounding them continue
to thrive. In addition, we want to establish a long–term relationship
with the organisers,” he added.

In addition, Tourism Minister: “Unforgettable experience.” On his
part, the Minister for Tourism and Heritage for Zanzibar, Hon. Simai
Mohammed Said lauded both Sauti za Busara and Fumba Town for coming
together to support the growth of tourism in the isles.

“The Festival has, over the last 20 years, become one of the major
attractions for visitors in our annual events calendar. We urge all
government agencies and leaders, businesses, private and corporate
donors to follow CPS’ positive example to invest in celebrations of
our arts and cultural heritage, which offer unique and unforgettable
experiences for visitors to the region,” the Minister of Tourism
noted. ”

Sauti za Busara – Tanzania’s most compelling music and cultural
Festival, brings together thousands of enthusiasts and performers from
across Africa and the world to celebrate the richness and diversity of
African music and heritage. The Festival is staged during February
each year and is organised by Busara Promotions, a non-governmental
organisation (NGO). It ranks high among African music festivals,
including the Festival in the Desert in Mali, which had to be
discontinued because of political unrest, the MTN Bushfire Festival in
eSwatini and the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in South
Africa.

The 20th-anniversary edition of Sauti za Busara will take place from
10th to 12th February 2023. With its theme being Tofauti Zetu, Utajiri
Wetu (Diversity is Our Wealth), the Festival will reach out to a
diverse crowd and feature live music performances from Zanzibar,
Tanzania, DRC, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Egypt,
Sudan, Ethiopia, Mayotte and Reunion. It is usually embedded among
training workshops, networking and cultural events throughout Stone
Town, organizers further noted.

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