Sauti za Busara 2019: 5 questions for Fadhilee Itulya

East Africa's favourite festival kicks off at the historically loaded Old Fort on 7 February, with Itulya playing a day later on the main stage, which will also host Tanzania's incredible Wamwiduka Band and singeli musician S Kide, among others.

From his renowned 2018 Kwetu album to his latest release ‘Nekesa’, Itulya, a 2018 All Africa Music Awards nominee, has been displaying an uncanny ability to blend authentic Kenyan roots music with modern influences.

Music In Africa caught up with the talented singer and guitarist to discuss his musical influences and expectations of Sauti za Busara (SzB) 2019.

MUSIC IN AFRICA: SzB has listed as an artist who makes socially conscious. What inspires your lyrics?

FADHILEE ITULYA: My lyrics are inspired by everyday life in Africa: the people, the stories around us, the joy of it all as well as the dissatisfaction and the desire for change.

A friend once said to me that art makes the world bearable and artists are the canaries in the mines. Musicians paint with words, rhythm and melody, and that should not just be for entertainment. The gift of influence is not only glory, it is also a burden. We are representatives of society, the voice of the people, and we have privileges that only political leaders enjoy, and that is the ears of the people.

What do you expect out of the four days?

I have been to so many SzB editions as a Kenyan flagbearer and cheering on other artists. In fact, half the time the line-up is full of friends and acquaintances. I have also previously applied to play at SzB four times but I did not make it through.

I was never discouraged. Instead, I took it as a learning process to discover what skills and qualities are required from musicians by the organisers. This time around, I will be up on that stage. It will be a defining moment of my career and I hope to catch the eye of the many music promoters and festival bookers during the Movers and Shakers sessions. 

I'm also looking forward to watching Mokoomba because they are my biggest inspiration. In my opinion, they were the best African band in 2018.

What impact would a festival like SzB have if it were held in every East African country?

Massive. SzB has managed to create a deeply rooted music and dance culture in Zanzibar. Such an event would encourage a more ingrained music culture that would help us steer away from the overwhelming amount of mediocre commercial music we have seen in the past few years. Local businesses such as hotels and transportation would also benefit from tourists and create more employment opportunities.

Give us a general rundown of who Fadhilee Itulya is.

Fadhilee Itulya is an Afro-fusion artist from Kenya. I began my professional music career in 2008 after being featured on the Alliance Française Nairobi compilation album titled Spotlight on Kenyan Music Vol 4. My music is grounded in culture, community and care for the environment. It draws inspiration from a fingerpicking style of guitar playing called omutibo. It is a genre from the Luhya people of Western Kenya. I am also one of eight global brand ambassadors for Swinti, a brand of Swiss timepieces. 

Do you think East African musicians are doing enough to safeguard culture and tradition?

I think we can do better. I think self-hate has been instilled so we are slowly losing our identity and love of our culture. This is mainly because we have been unable to properly preserve our culture and uphold heritage. Instead, we even look down on it.

However, there is an awakening of musicians seeking to fuse traditional and contemporary sounds. Additionally, cultural festivals like SzB, Bayimba Festival, Lamu Festival, Turkana Festival, and the DOADOA arts market are on the front line of this conversation in the region and I commend and salute their efforts.

For more information and tickets, visit the Sauti za Busara official website.