By Ogova Ondego
Published January 5, 2012
Some 31 music groups have been selected to perform at the 9th annual Sauti za Busara music festival that runs February 8-12, 2012 in Zanzibar.
The groups that shall perform on the main stage in Zanzibar’s Ngome Kongwe (Old Fort) alongside those from Zanzibar and Tanzania mainland include Reunion’s Kozman Ti Dalon; Sudan’s Camirata Group; Uganda’s Ndere Troupe, and Qwela; Kenya’s Ogoya Nengo, and Super Mazembe; Congo Brazzaville’s Freddy Massamba; South Africa’s Tumi & The Volume; Nigeria’s Nneka; Cape Verde’s Ary Morais; Comoros’ Chébli Msaïdie; and Madagascar’s Hanitra.
While Lady Jaydee, Leo Mkanyia, Lumumba Theatre Group, Seven Survivor, Tunaweza Band, Jembe Culture Group, Jagwa Music , FM Academia shall represent Tanzania mainland, Zanzibar shall have Kidumbaki JKU, Shirikisho Sanaa, Skuli ya Kiongoni, Swahili Vibes Band, Tandaa Traditional Group, Tausi Women’s Taarab, Utamaduni JKU, Kidumbaki JKU, Wanafunzi wa SOS, and Pemba Juhudi Taarab,and Mkota Spirit Dancers.
Organisers of the festival, Busara Promotions, say they received more than 600 applications from performers in more than 60 countries from which they selected 31.
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Some of the main acts that have in the past graced the event that touts itself as ‘East Africa’s number one music festival’ are Samba Mapangala & Orchestra Virunga (Kenya/Congo-Kinshasa), Bi Kidude (Zanzibar), Thandiswa Mazwai (South Africa), Bassekou Kouyate (Mali) and Didier Awadi (Senegal).
