Tanzania: Time to Market Zanzibar Beauty Through Culture

THE spotlight has finally moved over to Zanzibar as Stone Town, a location with a unique history and world heritage status, is hosting one of Africa's biggest cultural events. Sauti za Busara (Sounds of Wisdom) Music Festival, one of the most important events of the year in Zanzibar in terms of boosting economy and promoting music, opened yesterday in the Indian Ocean Island.

It is a large event with several hundreds of artists participating each year. According to the organisers, there are many good performers on stage who will meet the expectations of both local and foreign music and culture enthusiasts.

A total of 32 groups of more than 200 artistes have been picked to perform in this year's festival.

Participating artists include a wide array of African music stars from East, South and West Africa, as well as from various countries along the Nile River and others as far as from Puerto Rico.

That means the four-day festival is all set to serve a fine mix of dance and music to its audience.

Besides music live shows, the festival includes several other activities both in Stone Town and in other locations in Zanzibar, such as fashion shows and a carnival parade in the streets of Stone Town.

The music extravaganza, known as 'the Friendliest Festival on the Planet', has helped in poverty reductions as more than 150 Tanzanians are employed as crew members for the festival each year.

Aimed at promoting and preserving the music and cultural heritage of Zanzibar, the festival plays its part to build appreciation for music from all over Africa and promotes peace and social cohesion.

It also enhances the cultural industries of East Africa and strengthens cultural tourism. The sad thing is that the colourful annual gala is being held in the absence of the founding artist, Bi Kidude (Fatma Baraka Khamis), winner of the prestigious WOMEX award for her outstanding contribution to music and culture in Zanzibar, who died on April 17, last year.

Festival organisers Busara Promotions have hinted that there might be something to do in remembering Bi Kidude, a national and international figure, but much depends on the guidelines of the ministry responsible for culture.

However, it is encouraging to note that the organisers believe the festival is winning international recognition for providing a stage to upcoming artists.

So far arrangements are underway for two of the local bands performing at the festival to tour Spain in July, this year.

A number of Spanish music festival directors are already in Zanzibar to select the two bands that will participate in some of Spain's most important music festivals, which are committed to African music.

The directors have come under the umbrella of a public consortium based in Madrid, Casa Africa, which is geared towards strengthening cultural ties between the two countries.

Their arrival is a big deal to Tanzania because apart from promoting the local musicians and marketing them abroad, it also provides the economy with a major foreign exchange injection.

And the festival itself helps cement unity as it takes place using the fundamental belief that cultural diversity through music creates harmony, unity and builds consensus. It's believed that artists see the world differently.

Their perspectives are unique, so are their means of self-expression. Their art lies partly in their ability to make people question their assumptions and beliefs, and encourage them to consider different visions of their country.

It's in this light that expectations are high and we appeal to the organisers to dedicate this year's event to fostering peace in Zanzibar, especially at this time when the election fever is mounting high among Tanzanians.

Since its inception, the festival has remained an important event in promoting the wealth and diversity of music in East Africa.

It has also served as a unique opportunity for East African artists to showcase their talents, and share experience and ideas with guest musicians, who usually bring new ideas and inspiration to the hosts.

While praising the festival's organising team for enabling the Isles government to rake in some foreign currency out of the event, they should also be reminded that there's need to do more on the tourism front.

For years, Tanzanians have been taking music and cultural events for granted, while they have a major impact on tourism.

As the global tourism industry becomes increasingly competitive, the relevant authorities should take a new approach in the promotion of the sector, and use the festival to make the Isles one of the preferred tourism destinations in Africa.

Hopefully, participating groups will enjoy the four-day event, as Stone Town is the perfect location for cultural celebrations.

Let's join Rebecca Corey, Managing Director of the Busara promotions, in thanking donors and sponsors, led by royal Norwegian Embassy, for supporting the festival.

Special gratitude should go to the Zanzibar Water Authority (ZAWA) for being the first government institution to support the festival and the organizers look forward to receiving more contributions from both the public and private sector. Long live Sauti za Busara!
By Willie Chiwango 
Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)