Sauti za Busara
Sauti za Busara takes place Mar 19 - 21, 2027 (24th edition; moved from the traditional February slot) in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The dress code is Light, breathable clothing and comfortable standing shoes; modest attire is respectful away from the festival grounds. Typical cost ranges from 300 to 900 EUR per person.
One of East Africa's most beloved music festivals, staged inside the Old Fort of Stone Town and dedicated entirely to live African music, with a strong focus on women artists and emerging East African talent. The 2027 edition moves to Mar 19 - 21. Intimate, authentic and unsponsored-feeling, it is the anti-corporate festival experience.
- When
- Mar 19 - 21, 2027 (24th edition; moved from the traditional February slot)
- Where
- Zanzibar, Tanzania
- Dress code
- Light, breathable clothing and comfortable standing shoes; modest attire is respectful away from the festival grounds.
- Cost
- Typical cost ranges from 300 to 900 EUR per person.
- Weather
- 28 - 32C, hot and humid tropical island weather with a chance of early long rains
- When to book
- Buy passes in advance at busaramusic.org (popular nights sell out); book Stone Town rooms 2+ months out
- Getting there
- ZNZ (Zanzibar), 15 min to Stone Town
- Where to stay
- Park Hyatt Zanzibar, Emerson on Hurumzi (boutique heritage), Maru Maru Hotel (value)
- Official site
- https://busaramusic.org/
How to attend
Buy day passes or a full-festival pass via busaramusic.org (online adds a small fee); children under 12 enter free with an adult, and East African residents pay reduced local rates. Stay in Stone Town within walking distance of the Old Fort. Music runs from late afternoon into the early hours.
Insider tip
Catch the Beni brass street parade that opens the festival, and buy the full-festival pass - single big nights sell out first.
Get inside Sauti za Busara
Booking matters here: buy passes in advance at busaramusic.org (popular nights sell out); book Stone Town rooms 2+ months out. Members track that window, what it really costs, and 573 more events across the season.
Free while in beta. One email when your invitation is ready, nothing else.