7 musicians not to miss at Sauti za Busara 2022

The fort was built by Busaidi Omani Arabs in the late 1600s and later used as a prison and place of execution until the British transformed its main courtyard into a ladies’ tennis club in 1949. Watching live music in a setting like this is more than an aesthetic experience but a historic and cultural one that goes back many generations while evoking imagery of atrocity and pain. 

Sauti za Busara, which means ‘Sounds of Wisdom’ in Swahili, returns for another exciting edition under the banner Paza Sauti: Amplifying Women’s Voices from 11 to 13 February. The festival will feature 19 musical artists from places like Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, DRC, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania and Reunion.

The event is also often hailed as a unique networking opportunity for artists, promoters and professionals from the African music industry. Each afternoon during the festival, the Movers & Shakers forum will provide a friendly and informal space for local and visiting professionals to meet, connect and exchange ideas.

Ahead of the big event, Music In Africa has compiled a playlist of the performing artists you should not miss come 11 February.

Sampa the Great (Zambia)

Sampa the Great is arguably one of Africa’s biggest hip hop exports. The Australia-based musician weaves lyrical mazes with thought-provoking verses, drawing listeners into a lush and imaginative world. Her music fuses spoken word, rap, psychedelia and blues. Her sound comes from an adventurous young mind pushing against all boundaries. Sampa’s rise has been spectacular. After releasing two mixtapes – The Great Mixtape (2015) and Birds and the BEE9 (2017) – the Zambian-born, Botswana-raised artist shared her debut album The Return in 2019 to critical acclaim across the world. It also won her the Australian Music Prize that year.

Msaki (South Africa)

Msaki has always had a knack for voicing scoiety’s inner fears, hopes and desires. She is a singer-songwriter, producer and curator and one of South Africa’s most unique and exciting talents at the moment. She is equally at home in acoustic settings as well as on chart-topping bangers by the globally revered South African house music fraternity, including Mobi Dixon, Revolution, Black Coffee, Black Motion and Prince Kaybee, with whom she released the hit ‘Fetch Your Life’.

Sholo Mwamba (Tanzania)

Sholo Mwamba is an award-winning artist from Dar es Salaam and one of Tanzania’s greatest singeli pioneers. He was inspired by his late grandfather, who used to lead a Wazaramo traditional ngoma group. In the meantime, while expanding its reach to dominate dance floors across the region, Tanzanian singeli has moved on from ‘social outcast’ status to being a source of national pride.

Wamwiduka Band (Tanzania)

Wamwiduka Band is a traditional music group from Mbeya, Tanzania. Founded in 2012, the ensemble is comprised of Brown Isaya (lead vocalist), Adriano Wilson (lead guitarist and banjo player), Zakaria Michael (singer and percussionist) and Peter Mashaka (bass and babatoni). A huge hit at Sauti za Busara 2019, the band is now popular across East Africa, where they perform regularly in public spaces such as bus stations, markets and bars.

Sjava (South Africa)

Sjava’s lyrical prowess cannot neither be denied nor disputed. He gained local popularity after he was featured on Miss Pru’s acclaimed song ‘Ameni’ in 2015. He made a mark on the international scene in 2018 after winning the Viewers’ Choice: Best International Act accolade at the BET Awards. Besides rap, Sjava also experiments with genres such as Afrobeats, hip hop and contemporary R&B.

Vitali Maembe (Tanzania)

Vitali Maembe is a well-respected Tanzanian artist, guitar player and singer-songwriter known for his original music, which is universal yet distinctly Tanzanian. His music combines inland and coastal rhythms as well as poetic and provocative lyrics. Maembe’s focus is on awakening society with lyrics calling corrupt leaders to account and provoking discussions for people to find their own solutions to pressing issues.

Ben Pol (Tanzania)

Ben Pol is a leading Tanzanian artist and a fast-rising star on the African music scene. His live performance skills combine top-notch vocal artistry with great stage presence, making his shows highly sought after. He is an award-winning R&B singer, songwriter and a gifted vocalist whose productions keep gracing the top of the radio charts. Some of his major hit singles include ‘Nikikupata’, ‘Number One Fan’, ‘Samboira’, ‘Maneno’, ‘Moyo Mashine’, ‘Pete’ ‘Jikubali’, ‘Wapo’, ‘Kidani’ and ‘Sikukuu’. 

Tickets to Sauti za Busara 2022 can be bought at the venue. Tanzanians can enter the venue from as little as 6 000 Tanzanian shillings (about $2.50) per day. More ticketing info is available here.