SAUTI ZA BUSARA BIGGEST EVENT FOR ZANZIBAR TOURISM
Zanzibars globally renowned music and culture festival, Sauti Za Busara, is finally getting the official recognition it has always deserved, when official tourism sources announced that a stakeholder meeting will be held later in the week to discuss ways and means to further improve the festivals standing and secure lasting sponsorhips for the organizers. Daytime events staged during the festival period have traditionally been free of charge for visitors to access while in more recent years the evening shows and performances attracted a nominal fee to enter the festival areas in the old Stone Town of Zanzibar.
This correspondent has given Sauti Za Busara exposure since its inaugural edition many years ago, and has been supporting the growth of the festival into the foremost African music, culture and performing arts show. The meeting between festival organizers and tourism and government officials is seeking ways to provide sustainable funding for the event, which has become a magnet for music performers from across the continent while of late also attracting African film makers entering their works to the festival, vying for honours. Sauti Za Busara is arguably, besides the beaches and other tourism attractions, THE crowd puller for Zanzibar when visitors, participants and the media flock to the Spice Island en masse and in growing numbers year after year. Yet, sponsorship support from local stakeholder has been waning, putting future festivals in doubt and the organizers have appealed to Zanzibars tourism businesses to step up and repay the festival with financial and material support and not just reap the benefits from bringing thousands upon thousands of additional visitors to the island year after year. Visit www.busaramusic.org for more details or how sponsorships can be discussed with the festival organizers. Huge publicity, including right here, is of course assured for those willing to help.
