Sauti za Busara

When: February each year, with several days of concerts, workshops and late-night showcases.

Where: Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania - the festival centres on the Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe) and nearby streets and squares.

Cost: Ticketed event with day passes and full festival wristbands; there are also free street performances and informal shows.

Don’t miss: Evening headline sets at the Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe) and spontaneous rooftop and alleyway performances scattered through historic Stone Town.

Sauti za Busara is an annual showcase of East African and pan-African music staged in Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania. Created in the early 2000s to highlight Swahili-coast traditions and contemporary acts, it has grown into the region’s most consistent platform for African artists.

Performances happen across intimate indoor venues, open-air stages and the maze of Stone Town streets, with the main programmed shows at the Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe) and daytime fringe events often spilling into Forodhani Gardens and market areas. The atmosphere mixes serious listening with late-night dancing and informal musician meet-ups.

Sauti za Busara takes place every February in Zanzibar; organisers publish exact dates ahead of the season and the schedule is not tied to a lunar calendar.

Expect a few days of curated daytime panels and workshops, an opening night of smaller showcases, then two to three nights of main concerts at the Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe) with fringe and rooftop gigs filling the days in Stone Town.

Fly into Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) on Zanzibar’s Unguja island; many international travellers connect via Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, then take a short domestic flight or the ferry to Unguja. The festival venues are a short taxi or walk from Stone Town; arrive at least a day early and book accommodation well in advance.

• Book accommodation in Stone Town early; guesthouses and boutique hotels fill quickly during the festival.
• Carry Tanzanian shillings for food stalls, vendors and small bars; card acceptance is limited in some venues.
• Dress light and respectful - breathable clothing for daytime heat and a smart-casual layer for evening shows in historic buildings.
• Wear comfortable shoes for cobbled streets and expect crowded, narrow alleyways after dark; keep your belongings secure.
• Stay hydrated and bring insect repellent; February is warm and humid and coastal mosquitoes are common in the evenings.
• Be mindful when photographing musicians and locals - ask permission, especially at private rooftop gigs or religious sites.