Vera, United Planet’s Executive Director in Tanzania, recently attended the Santi za Busara music festival in Zanzibar (Zanzibar is sort of part of Tanzania).
What a wonderful way to indulge in the culture of another country experiencing the power of music as a language which needs no translation. Here’s what she had to say as well as some amazing photos courtesy of her husband Peter…
Sauti za Busara – Music Festival Zanzibar
Stonetown never gets as busy as during the annual Sauti za Busara music festival.
Visitors from every corner of the world come to Zanzibar to be part of this event which hosts musicians from all over Africa.
The city is vibrant with the many people and the sounds of music played in the open air of the Old Fort, at the Stonetown waterfront.
And, lucky me, I got to be there again this year.
Stonetown, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is only a two hour ferry ride away from Dar es Salaam, the commercial capital and largest city in Tanzania.
Beautiful Stonetown
When the sea is calm the boat ride is a treat.
To see the aqua blue ocean, local fisherman in sailing boats called dhows, small islands with pristine beaches, and finally entering the port of Stonetown itself, with splendid views of some of the best kept buildings of the city such as the House of Wonders, the Palace Museum and the Tembo Hotel, are worthwhile the trip.
The island of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago, has many beaches not too far from Stonetown.
White sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, and amazing music…perfection!
Together with a friend I rented a car, and drove to Jozani forest to see the Colobus monkeys, found in Zanzibar only, and then continued to Paje, a town on the east coast of the island, to enjoy the beach for a few hours.
The music festival, held in February every year, lasts for 5 days.
One of my favorite performances this year was the Senegalese – Swedish band of Sousou and Maher Cissoko, playing West African kora music that just makes you want to dance.
A smiling musician enjoying the festival
There was also plenty of Taarab music to be heard, an East African coastal music style influenced by a mix of African and Arab music, and of which Zanzibar is the center.
Why don’t you come see and experience it yourself next year?
Pictures courtesy of Peter Stanley – www.photopoa.com
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
