Busara Promotions

Busara Promotions is registered as an NGO in Zanzibar since 2003. Sauti za Busara, their flagship event, takes place every year in Stone Town during February. In 2014, the festival celebrated its 11th edition, bringing together diverse artists and audiences and building appreciation for East African music.

Sauti za Busara is more than ‘just’ a music festival: it contributes to the growth and professionalization of the creative sector in the region; provides learning, exchange and employment opportunities, and promotes Zanzibar globally as a leading destination for cultural tourism.
Whilst continuing to maintain and build on the reputation of Sauti za Busara festival in Zanzibar, significant areas they also aim to develop further over the next five years include:

- Expanding their calendar of events to increase visibility and accessibility for local music and culture.
- Increasing outreach activity to actively discover and nurture new talents, and help them to reach new markets
- Creating and curating content, to further promote African music on internet and other media.
- Professionalizing the regional music industry through increased opportunities for training and capacity building.
- Strengthening partnerships with organizations in East Africa and the Global North and South; to share information, join forces and further develop capacities through skills exchange.
- Diversifying revenue streams that promote sustainability in the fulfilment of our mission.

Busara Promotions exists for the promotion and development of musicians and therefore all of their organizational behaviours are undertaken with care and concern for their primary interests. Busara will focus on all artists, those who are established and others who are yet to be discovered and developed, particularly living in disadvantaged communities. Busara strives to uphold and advance the power of music and art in society, and the artist’s important role in keeping cultural traditions alive and dynamic.