Sauti za Busara: Trip VI

 

Swahili encounters, a super band formed from artists, always one of my favorites.

My sixth trip to Sauti za Busara and the event continues to get better (Trip V)! This years event was under new management and although it retained the same feel and standard as previous years, there were a few noticeable changes. There were more food vendors inside the venue and a clever pre-paid payment system integrated into the festival wristband. The entry process was also pushed back outside the actual fort and resulted in a quicker moving triage and entry process. 

The sound system and mixing this year were great and crowds were on average with previous years. It is the perfect mix of being crowded enough you can feel the energy and size of the event but small enough that you can recognize the dedicated concert goers night after night. And most importantly, there is always enough space to dance!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Sauti za Busara is one of the most underrated events in the world, especially for music lovers. I had never heard of one artists before attending the event, I had not even checked the program. But each year I'm blown away by unique and foreign sounds, collaborations between artists, and energy of the cosmopolitan crowd. 

Very similar to last year, the jam session super group formed by artists attending the event was one of the highlights. Titled, "Swahili Encounters" artists take turns learning each others songs and jamming out. It's cliche but it demonstrates just how powerful the language of music is. The and consisted of a saxophone (Ethiopia/Hungary), vocals (Kenya), percussion and vocals (Zimbabwe), congas (Tanzania), percussion (Tanzania), guitar (Niger), drum set (Uganda), bass (Sudan), guitar/accordion (Ethiopia). How insane and diverse is that lineup, not to mention that over half of them are female? 

My other favorite was the female duo from the island nation of Reunion, Sibu Manaï. They performed at the small amphitheater and their performance started late but they immediately won over the crowd. It was a unique set up with pre-recorded tracks and some minor looping with keyboard paired with a live percussionist and stunning vocals. The vocalists style fit the vibe of the music perfectly and by the end the crowd were singing refrains of the songs after a raucous applause?! It was an amazing performance and the artists had grateful reactions.

I unfortunately could not stay the final night but I am already looking forward to next years edition!!!