Call for artists: Karibu Music Festival in Tanzania

First held in 2014, the Karibu Music Festival seeks to promote Tanzanian culture through the universal language of music and the arts. Incorporating a wide variety of music genres, the festival aims to nurture and promote African music and culture to the world, as well as introducing other countries’ cultures to local audiences and building opportunities for collaboration among all participants. 

The festival provides a platform for artists from Africa, Europe, America, and Asia who will perform at the main stage and conduct workshops. It will also feature musicians selling and showcasing their albums, craftsmen and artisans selling unique products, local food and drink. The 2016 edition will also incorporate a cinema and graffiti showcase.

Artists already confirmed for this year's event include South African singer Tribute ‘Birdie’ Mboweni. Having recently performed at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in April, Birdie is part of a new breed of soul musicians that are putting their own modern take on the classic sound, and doing it justice. Her voice evokes raw, organic emotion that penetrates deep into your heart.

Also performing will be upcoming band The City from Cape Town, South Africa. Guided by a strong belief in paying tribute to their musical heritage, they blend African rhythms and grooves with electronic sounds and soulful melodies. In April 2015 they successfully launched their self-titled debut EP, which includes the single 'Long For You'

From the opposite end of the continent, meanwhile, Egyptian band Karakeeb formed in 2011 by a group of musicians who agreed to discuss both the political and social problems of their area in the form of songs, often with satirical lyrics, fusing numerous different musical styles.

Moses Zamangwa was born in the Songea Region of southern Tanzania. He start out playing guitar in various gospel bands. He later started playing the saxophone and it quickly became his main instrument, to the point where he is now he considered one of the most talented saxophonists in East Africa. His saxophone has taken Zamangwa all over the world, including Indonesia, Qatar, Turkey, Germany, Swaziland, France and Australia.

Organized by Karibu Cultural Promotions in collaboration with Legendary Music Entertainment and Promotion, the Karibu festival also seeks to bring together businesses, the international community, youth, community organizations and the Tanzanian people on an annual basis to celebrate the country's diversity. The successful 2015 edition of the festival featured various artists, including the late Congolese artist Papa Wemba, Kenya's Sarabi and H_art the Band and local favourite Msafiri Zawose, among others.

How to apply

Musicians wanting to perform at the Karibu Festival are requested to fill out the online application form.

This is the final call and artists have until Thursday 30 June to submit their applications.

For artists in Tanzania, a modest performance fee will be offered. For artists outside Tanzania, modest accommodation, local transport and per diem will be provided. International Artists are encouraged to source their own support to cover their travel expenses (air ticket, visa, insurance etc). The festival office can send a formal invitation letter to facilitate the solicitation for such support if necessary.

For more details visit the Kariba festival's website.