Zanzibar gets ready for Sauti Za Busara Festival 2011

(eTN) Performers from across the African continent and beyond are invited by the organizers of East Africa’s premier music, art, and culture festival,

(eTN) Performers from across the African continent and beyond are invited by the organizers of East Africa’s premier music, art, and culture festival, Sauti Za Busara, to send in their applications for consideration as soon as possible, to be assured of a place in next year’s edition in Zanzibar.

Interested parties should visit the festival website and download the application form and then return it at the very latest by July 31, 2010. www.busaramusic.org/callforartists/index.php The vetting committee will then sit in August to decide who will get one of the much-desired spots to present a live performance during the five days and nights the festival is running.

Applicants should note that selected performers will received financial assistance for their visa, travel, accommodation, and subsistence while in Zanzibar and that the key performers can also expect support for sponsoring deals, in addition to the general support granted to all performers. Successful applications will be notified by the end of September at the latest to allow enough time to prepare for their presence in Zanzibar between February 9-13 next year.

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete stepped forward this year in offering his support and throwing his weight behind the festival, which he pronounced “a very important initiative,” a true statement as this festival has grown from a small local festival to a continental cultural must-participate event known across the globe. He then went on to say that Sauti Za Busara “provides a great opportunity for both locals and visitors of different walks of life to meet and exchange ideas and appreciate the uniqueness, the wealth, and diversity of the music from our region. In so doing, the festival contributes to us building intercultural understanding and friendship.”

Make note in your travel diary for next year’s event and book your flights and accommodation early as, going by the experience of recent years, hotels and resorts tend to be sold out over that period of time and several last-minute wannabe visitors ended up disappointed when they failed to either secure flights or accommodation at the very last moment. For those who do manage to come, it will be “welcome to Zanzibar and welcome to the United Republic of Tanzania.”

Sponsors, donors, and organizations or companies wishing to be associated with the festival are encouraged to write to them via [email protected] to obtain all the various options of how to get involved and what exposure they can expect in return.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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