Sauti za Busara 2027 Festival Open Call
Apply to perform at the 24th edition of Sauti za Busara Festival in Stone Town, Zanzibar, March 11-14, 2027. Deadline: June 30, 2026.
Sauti za Busara, an annual festival celebrating diverse music connected to Africa and its diaspora, is now accepting applications for its 24th edition taking place in Stone Town, Zanzibar from March 11-14, 2027. The festival prioritizes artists with strong cultural identity linked to Africa, women artists or groups led by women, young and emerging talent, and those delivering socially relevant messages through live performances.
Selected artists receive comprehensive support including performance fees, per-diems for meals and incidental expenses, accommodation in Zanzibar, local transport, Tanzanian visa costs, festival passes, and invitations to networking sessions and press conferences. Promotion is provided through festival programmes, press releases, website and social media platforms.
Applicants must submit materials through the official application form including links to maximum two recent live performance videos, up to two MP3 audio tracks, two high-resolution promotional photographs, stage plan and technical rider, and optionally a Music In Africa profile link. The festival encourages artists to create or update their profile on the Music In Africa platform to enhance visibility for international bookings.
The application deadline is June 30, 2026 (midnight EAT). The festival's selection committee will meet in July 2026 to finalize the programme, with notifications sent before September 2026. The final line-up will be announced in October 2026. Incomplete submissions or late applications will not be considered. Artists traveling from outside the region are generally expected to secure their own international travel sponsorship, though the festival may provide assistance where possible.