Zanzibar fest gets Norwegian funding

Ramadhani was speaking to Music In Africa after the Norwegian embassy in Tanzania announced it would support core running costs for Busara Promotions, the NGO behind the festival, to the tune of $342 000 between now and March 2022.

He said access to funding was one of the major challenges highlighted by music industry players. The new funding would therefore significantly enhance the production value of the festival.

"The embassy of Norway's support is valuable and greatly appreciated in that it covers most of Busara's office expenses and salaries throughout the year," Ramadhani said.

"This has really helped professionalise in terms of our strategic planning, budgeting, narrative and financial reporting. In regard to the festival, however, we still have a long way to go in fundraising, as we are again starting almost from scratch."

Ramadhani said that although the festival was grateful for the funding, it was still looking to secure further sponsorship opportunities.

"We have already started approaching sponsors, requesting cash or in-kind contributions, such as flight tickets, hotel rooms, technical equipment or media coverage in return for marketing benefits that can reach millions of people locally and worldwide, depending on the interests of the various sponsors.

"Visitors to Sauti za Busara bring plenty of business, in flights and ferries, ground transport, hotels, restaurants, mobile communications and so on. Whatever corporates contribute returns in the short or long term, as they help the cultural industries grow and prosper in the future."

He said NGOs and foreign cultural institutions were at the forefront of sponsoring exchange programmes and creative expression events across East Africa. But Ramadhani believes that the government also has a responsibility to invest in the arts industry, which can drive economic growth.

"The tourism statistics have been completely transformed, with the festival week now being peak season for the island," he said. "Sauti za Busara helps to build peace and unity, reduce poverty, provide employment and skills training, promote cultural tourism, and attract visitors from near and far while promoting intercultural friendship and exchange."

Each year, Sauti za Busara hosts 7 000 local and international festivalgoers and employs 500 artists and 300 crew. This year, Sauti za Busara showcased 46 groups and 400 artists from Africa and the diaspora on three stages. 

Meanwhile, the festival last month made a call to artists who would like to play at the 2020 edition of the festival.