Top 10: Sauti za Busara founder Yusuf Mahmoud

The evolution of the festival has seen its popularity grow throughout the years. The last edition, which took place from 3 to 16 February, saw more than 20 000 people in attendance.

As part of Music In Africa's Top Ten series, we invited Sauti za Busara founder Yusuf Mahmoud to curate a playlist of his 10 favourite African songs. Having witnessed Africa's best perform on his stages, there are few event organisers on the continent who have a better ear than Mahmoud.

"Firstly, I must say limiting this to only 10 was not easy," Mahmoud says. "There were so many great recordings made across Africa over the past 50 years, but I am also excited and greatly inspired by the new generation. I hope readers enjoy this selection, discover new sounds and point in their comments to other songs that could have been included."

Mahmoud's playlist features musicians from Mali, Nigeria, Zambia, Tanzania, Ghana, Zanzibar, DRC and Senegal. Building on the festival's call to action to accelerate gender equality in the music industry, Mahmoud highlights the work of Sampa the Great (Zambia) and Siti Amina of Siti & the Band (Zanzibar), who fearlessly use their voice to make their opinions known. In a touching moment, Mahmoud also pays tribute to Jagwa Music lead singer Dogo Jackie who died in 2018.

Sowa by Fatoumata Diawara and Roberto Fonseca (Mali/Cuba)  

"At this time of global pandemic and impossibility to attend live music events, we mostly experience music on our phones and laptops," Mahmoud says. "Online performances rarely capture the magic, energy and interplay between musicians as seen in this historic meeting between the two heavyweights from Mali and Cuba respectively. If you enjoy these seven minutes, treat yourself to Fatoumata Diawara and Fonseca's At Home (Live in Marciac) album in full."

Restless by Nneka (Nigeria)

"If I had to choose one amazing performance from the Sauti za Busara festival, without hesitation I would say Nneka, for the way she touched everyone at Zanzibar's Old Fort on 11 February 2012. Her show was a one-of-its-kind that we will never forget. Nneka's lyrical intensity and vocal range are both powerful and moving. For this song, she is in one of her more tender moments. From the sublime Soul Is Heavy album, it sounds as fresh today as eight years ago on its day of release."

Final Form by Sampa the Great (Zambia) 

"Born in Botswana and raised in Zambia, since 2018 Sampa the Great has been based in Melbourne ,Australia. 'Final Form' is from The Return, my Top Album of 2019. As soon as the opening bars start to roll, you know this is going to be epic. As Sampa says, 'I don't choose to make political music; my life is political. This is the life experience of a black woman, and because there's not that much representation in hip hop, it will automatically be political'."

IMF by Seun Kuti ft. M1 (Nigeria)

"Just like his father Fela, Seun Anikulapo Kuti eloquently and uncompromisingly uses music as a tool to fight oppression and injustice, at home and abroad. A committed pan-Africanist, when releasing 'IMF' he said, 'I hope this song will let the world know not all Africans are ignorant. We are not stupid and we see the effects of the International Monetary Fund's austerity policies in our everyday lives'."

Mpango Mzima (live at Roskilde Festival) by Jagwa Music (Tanzania)

"Sauti za Busara was blessed to have Jagwa Music perform on its stages six times between 2005 and 2017. I had the privilege of traveling with these guys to WOMEX UK in 2005, the event where Bi Kidude was also presented her Lifetime Achievement Award. This video was recorded at Roskilde Festival in 2011, before singer Dogo Jackie and dancer Mussa Ngalula tragically departed this world. In my dreams they are still together, dancing to mchiriku and leading a band of angels in paradise."

Kazi Kazi by Professor Jay ft. Sholo Mwamba (Tanzania) 

"When I moved to Zanzibar in 1998, Tanzania was one of Africa's leading countries for conscious hip hop, usually performed in Kiswahili. The bongo flava movement as it was known then sadly became commercialised. The energy and excitement now return with singeli, a more modern urban style with roots in mchiriku that is also youthful, refreshing and uniquely Tanzanian. On first seeing this clip four years ago, it made me realise singeli music seriously has the potential to blow up worldwide!"

Another Story by Burna Boy ft. M.anifest (Nigeria/Ghana) 

"Burna Boy is another African Giant, rightly recognised and respected across Africa and beyond, and twice winner of Best International Act at the BET Awards. His songs are great for the dancefloor. I love that he also uses his influence in positive ways to educate while 'entertaining o', as in this Nigerian history lesson collab with M.anifest. 'They wanna tell you o, another story o. Since 1960 them dey play us, why o? Shey, we go dey cry forevermore? E dey pain me, o…'"

Nielewe by Siti & the Band (Zanzibar) 

"Siti & the Band were the audience's favourites at Sauti za Busara 2020. They embody the new fruits of a music ecosystem local to Zanzibar, where Dhow Countries Music Academy and Stone Town Records encourage and support young people to create uniquely local music. I have so much respect for Siti Amina, the bandleader. Despite many challenges, she never lost hope in keeping this project alive and true to her vision, offering encouragement to the next generation of women and girls to keep their culture moving forwards, without losing its identity."

L'Hiver Indien by Baloji (DRC) 

"Baloji is an artist in motion – a musician, poet, film director, a man of images and ideas. Although I don't understand most of his lyrics, I find his work incredibly creative and inspiring. He brings together hip-hop and 'traditional' elements of Congolese music in ways that speak to the future. Baloji is a great role model for African artists looking to develop their careers. He hasn't performed yet at Sauti za Busara, but we continue to work on it in hope for the not-too-distant future."

New Future by Journal Rappé (Senegal) 

"Big up to Music in Africa for bringing attention to Journal Rappé (Xuman and Keyti) beyond Senegal, where their shows were already popular for many years. As rapper Xuman says, 'We talk about the effects of COVID-19 on the African health system, about African identity, independence, African pride and its culture.' This final episode of a recent bilingual 10-part series looks forward to the post-pandemic United States of Africa, in control of its resources, where possibilities are limitless."