JUNE 26, 2006
Sauti Za Busara Festival Calls For Artists
Fourth Annual Swahili Music Festival Set For February 2007
by Tom PryorZanzibar's annunal Sauti Za Busara festival, one of the highlights of the East African cultural calendar, recently announced an open call for artists for its 2007 season, which takes place February 9th-14th, 2007.
The festival, now in its fourth year, is one of two annual Swahili music and culture festivals that take place in Zanzibar, and draws an international audience. Sauti Za Busara is Swahili for "sounds of wisdom" and the festival bills itself as a showcasing "a dynamic mix of music and performing arts groups, mostly from around East Africa, with some specially invited international groups." In the past, Sauti Za Busara has drawn artists from the region, including Bi Kidude, Culture Musical Club and Jagwa well as acts from farther afield, including Mozambican band Ghorwane, Nigerian afropopsters The Shrine Synchrosystem and Ghanian singer/songwriter Atongo Zimba.
In keeping with this musical outreach, a recent email from festival organizers asked potential performers to send in applications by the end of August. According to the email: "Applications must include recent recordings (audio and/or video), pictures and biography information," as well as a presskit, if available. Artists are asked to consult the festival's website for more details.
