Friday 9th February

Friday’s opening ceremony day, where many artists have been the chance to give a sneak preview of their performances later in the week. The day is interspersed with formalities so it’s a good opportunity for you to get the lay of the land, pick your favourite food vendor and beer from the bar in the Old Fort. The performances will give you a chance to decide who you want to go back and see later in the week.

As Old As My Tongue            10:00pm at the Old Fort
Don’t miss the world premiere of As Old As My Tongue, charting the life and times of the infamous Bi Kidude. Kidude will be performing alongside Matona and G Clef on Sunday and the film gives an insight into this extraordinary woman’s life. Kidude will be performing on Sunday at 7:00pm with Matona & G-Clef, but she won’t be playing her drum as she’s still recovering from an operation.

Sanaa Taarab ft Omar Kopa      11:15pm at the Old Fort
Sanaa Taarab, featuring Omar Kopa, promises to be a delight and a gentle introduction to taarab for the uninitiated. Kopa is the closest thing Tanzania has to a taarab teen idol and his shows are always packed with glamorous girls, shimmering in their headscarves and buibuis.

As Old As My Tongue                  10:00pm at the Old Fort
Sanaa Taarab ft Omar Kopa         11:15pm at the Old Fort

Saturday 10th February

Ellika & Solo                           5:00pm at The Old Fort
Swedish polska meets Senegalese griot when Ellika & Solo pick up their instruments and play. Well known on the folk and world music scene, Ellika & Solo have toured world wide and won the World Music Boundary Crossing Award in 2003. Their music is fresh and joyful, as the Solo’s kora fills in the lilting three beat rhythm of the polska. Check out the clip featured in the download section to learn more.

Amani Drummers                  5:50pm at The Old Fort
Amani Drummers promises to be a spectacle as 20 Burundi drummers and dancers take to the stage. For those of you interested in African dance, Amani Drummers bring to life traditional ngomas from Burundi, used for centuries to celebrate tribal victories and praise their kings.

Swahili Encounters                7:00pm at The Old Fort
Anything can happen in a Swahili Encounters performance and that’s half the appeal for going to see the show. Swahili Encounters is the result of music fusion workshops held at the Dhow Countries Music Academy in the week before the festival. Musicians from across East African play together in an attempt to create something new and wonderful, the music organically evolving as the musicians play.

Fid Q                                  11:50pm at The Old Fort
Born in Mwanza, Fid Q is a giant on the bongo flava scene. Tight melodies, innovative beats, Fid Q is an electrifying performer, with flowing rhymes that hold a mirror to the social and political problems faced by Tanzanians today. When other bongo flava performers crowd the stage with dancers, Fid Q stands alone, filling the stage with his charisma, knowing that his music and performance is more than enough.

MB Dogg                            12:15am at The Old Fort
MB Dogg continues the bongo flava theme on Saturday night and the party’s going to continue long after the performers leave the stage.  An award winning artist, MB Dogg’s popularity spreads across East Africa. Songs like Latifa and Si uliniambia, have MB Dogg’s voice soar over catchy melodies and sharp beats, which fill the dancefloor every time. Long before I knew who MB Dogg was, I was singing and dancing along to his tracks in discos and dalla dallas, the music reaching over the language barrier.

Ellika & Solo            5:00pm at The Old Fort
Amani Drummers     5:50pm at The Old Fort
Swahili Encounters    7:00pm at The Old Fort
Fid Q                      11:50pm at The Old Fort
MB Dogg                 12:15am at The Old Fort


Sunday 11th February

Netsayi                           8:40pm at The Old Fort
Soulful and melodic, Netsayi is charming the UK music scene with performances at the Royal Albert Hall and sessions at Radio 1. Her voice is like listening to sunshine, smooth, warm and rich with emotion. Her album Chimurenga Soul is a collection of protest songs, displaying extraordinary range as jazz influences blend with African rhythms to produce music that’s refreshing, dynamic and soul affirming. It’s not surprising that she’s being hailed as the real deal, with comparisons to the grande dames of jazz from the 1930s.

Imena                           9:30pm at The Old Fort
This is Imena’s second performance at Sauti za Busara. After their success in 2005, Imena were invited back this year to captivate the crowds again with their graceful dancing and powerful drumming. Hailing from Rwanda, Imena try to exorcise the demons of their country’s past through their performances, to help develop a sense of unity and identity for all Rwandans.

Mo’Some Big Noise         10:30pm at The Old Fort
Hip hop, drum ‘n’ bass and jazz mix with the sounds of rural and urban Mozambique in Mo’Some Big Noise. Mo’Some Big Noise is at the forefront of fusion as trombonist Werner Puntigam, Metchume Zango, Tinoca Zimba and Cheny Mahuaie, play, combining timbila from Southern Mozambique with electronica, jazz and more in awe inspiring polyrhythm harmony.

Bongo Explosion            12:15am at The Old Fort
Bongo Flava is here. Saturday was just the warm up as the stars of bongo flava come out and shine on Sunday night. If you like hip hop, rap or just enjoy good music to dance to, this is the place to be. Young Tanzanians are crossing on the ferry for this once in a lifetime chance to see the superstars of genre on one stage. You’ll dance all night!

Netsayi                    8:40pm at The Old Fort
Imena                     9:30pm at The Old Fort
Mo’Some Big Noise    10:30pm at The Old Fort
Bongo Explosion       12:15am at The Old Fort


Monday 12th February

Didier Awadi & Phat 4          11:10pm at The Old Fort
An icon of the Senegalese rap scene, social crusader and talented media entrepreneur, Awadi’s performance is bound to be a highlight of the festival.  Awadi is a musical and political pioneer. He’s not afraid to stand up and be heard and his music acts as a social conscience for the world. Awadi is African rap at its best, and a powerful force for change across Africa.

Jose Chameleone                12:15am at The Old Fort
Charismatic, controversial and talented, Jose Chameleone is Uganda’s biggest artists, with a slew of awards and nominations world wide. Performing at Busara in front of a live band, Chameleone has a chance to silence his critics and rivals, with what promises to be a great performance at his first Sauti za Busara.

Didier Awadi & Phat 4        11:10pm at The Old Fort
Jose Chameleone             12:15am at The Old Fort


Tuesday 13th February

It’s Taarab Tuesday and as things wind down in town, you have the chance to hear what taarab is all about.  Two of Zanzibar’s best taarab orchestras take to the stage to demonstrate the best of the island’s native music. Egyptian, Arabic and African influences merge together as the violins soar with the qanun and flute and the drummers beat out the rhythm.

Culture Musical Club                          8:15pm at CMC clubhouse, Vuga Road
Nadi Ikhwa Safaa Malindi Taarab  9:00pm at the Malindi Club (donation on the door)

Malindi Taarab were founded in 1905, the oldest taarab orchestra on the island. Many young Zanzibari musicians started their musical apprenticeship with this orchestra and went on to great success. Culture Musical Club gained international recognition with their collaboration with Taj Mahal and are one of Zanzibar’s largest and most prolific taarab orchestras. Both orchestras are integral to the celebrations in island life, playing at weddings and celebrations.

It’s traditional for the audience to present money to the singers and orchestras if you like their songs, so take some small notes along with you to show your appreciation and enjoy traditional taarab.