Call for applications: Sauti za Busara 2024

14 Mar 2023 - 12:18

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

The organisers of Sauti za Busara are inviting interested musicians to apply to perform at the 2024 edition of the festival in Stone Town, Zanzibar, from 9 to 11 February.

Sauti za Busara will give preference to women artists, or groups led by women. Photo: Sauti za Busara

Organised annually by Busara Promotions since 2003, Sauti za Busara showcases unique and diverse music, primarily from Africa and the diaspora.

The line-up of confirmed artists will be announced in October 2023.

Preference will be given to:

Unique music with cultural identity that is connected to Africa, the Arab world and Indian Ocean region.
Women artists, or groups led by women.
Young, new and emerging talent.
Music with messages that are positive, relevant and useful to society.
Music that is performed 100% live.

Requirements

As part of the requirements, artists who seek to apply to showcase at Sauti za Busara should create a Music In Africa profile here and include it in the application form before 31 July 2023.

Incomplete applications or those received after the deadline will not be considered.

Supporting documents must be clearly labelled and uploaded via WeTransfer, Dropbox or Google Drive, with the link(s) pasted into the provided application form fields:

Link to the artist’s Music In Africa profile (optional but desirable).
Latest audio (MP3) release (maximum two songs).
Latest video (MP4) of live performance (maximum two clips).
Two promotional photos (high-resolution).
Stage plan and technical rider (if available).

If selected, Sauti za Busara will cover the following expenses for participating artists, plus one crew member:

Modest honorarium or performance fee.
Per diems for meals and incidentals.
Accommodation in Zanzibar.
All local transport related to the performance.
Tanzania visa costs.
Festival passes, including access to all shows for the duration of the event.
Invitations to the Movers & Shakers networking sessions for music professionals, press conferences and other events.
Artist’s profile in festival programmes, press releases, website and social media platforms.

A selection committee will meet in August to finalise the line-up for Sauti za Busara 2024. Applicants will be notified of the results before September. Artists from outside the region are usually required to find their own travel sponsors.

View the original call here.