Sauti za Busara (Swahili Music & Cultural Festival) 2025 in Zanzibar

If you don't know and have never heard African music, you have a chance to plunge into African rhythms at Sauti za Busara, a music festival held in Zanzibar every February in the Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe, Stone Town). It's considered the largest music event in East Africa. The program of the festival consists of exclusively African music, hundreds of musicians, singers, and other Swahili performers! Different styles of music are represented at the festival - from taarab legends like Bi Kidude and the Culture Musical Club to homegrown Tanzanian pop and hip-hop.

Music Lineup

The diverse lineup of artists from Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and the entire African continent promises a one-of-a-kind spectacle that will leave you breathless. The 2025 edition is set to feature Thandiswa, Blinky Bill, Mumba Yachi, Frida Amani, Joyce Babatunde, Charles Obina, Swahili Encounters, and many other talented musicians, showcasing a wide range of genres.

Tickets

The cost of tickets depends on the citizenship of the attendee. A regular three-day pass for international citizens costs $149-170, while a one-day pass costs $85. Those with African passports and East African residents can purchase three-day passes for $75-85 and one-day passes for $45. Three-day tickets for Tanzanian citizens cost 30,000-40,000 Tanzanian Shillings, while a one-day pass costs 20,000 Tanzanian Shillings. VIP tickets are also available.

Location

The festival takes place at the Old Fort in Zanzibar, which overlooks the picturesque vistas of the Indian Ocean.