The 8th Sauti za Busara (Sounds of Wisdom) music festival

Looks set to bring another "good news story" for Africa. Stone Town is gearing up in excitement as

World music promoters, culture vultures and journalists from all around the globe will soon be arriving in Zanzibar to check out what's cooking in the East Africa music scene.


For five days during 9 - 13 February the main stage in Zanzibar's Old Fort showcases live performances with around forty of the finest music groups from East Africa and beyond, including:


Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou (Benin) Blick Bassy (Cameroon) Otentikk Street Brothers (Mauritius) African Stars Band (aka Twanga Pepeta) (Tanzania) Mlimani Park Orchestra (Tanzania) Kwani Experience (South Africa) Culture Musical Club (Zanzibar) Bi Kidude (Zanzibar) Jagwa Music (Tanzania) Mohamed Ilyas & Nyota Zameremeta (Zanzibar) Bismillahi Gargar (Kenya) Maulidi ya Homu ya Mtendeni (Zanzibar) Djeli Moussa Diawara (Guinea) Christine Salem (Reunion) Yaaba Funk (UK) Muthoni The Drummer Queen (Kenya) Jahazi Modern Taarab (Tanzania) Sinachuki Kidumbak (Zanzibar) Les Frères Sissoko (Senegal) Sousou & Maher Cissoko (Senegal / Sweden) Sukiafrica Sukiyaki Allstars (Pan Africa / Far East) Groove Lélé (Reunion) Vusa Mkhaya & Band (Zimbabwe / Various) Djaaka (Mozambique) Nomakanjani Arts (Zambia) Percussion Discussion Afrika (Uganda) Tunaweza Band (Tanzania) Staff Band Namasabo (Tanzania) Swahili Encounters Group (Zanzibar / Various) NEWS Quartet (Mauritania / Various) Lelelele Africa (Kenya) Atemi & the Ma3 Band (Kenya) Black Roots (Zanzibar) Sauda (Tanzania) Wanyambukwa Artist Group (Tanzania) Nyota Kali Band (Tanzania) Cross Border (Zanzibar) and more.