Zanzibar’s main culture and music festival drew record crowds once again, and musicians and artists from across eastern Africa and the rest of the continent attended the extravagant week. Festival organizers have since thanked all participants and the media for their support in promoting the annual event and coming from far away to show their crafts and perform their tunes. Over 500 visitors also participated in the survey undertaken to gauge satisfaction, and the response was superbly positive. While some 78 percent of the festival visitors came from Zanzibar and the Tanzanian mainland, 5 percent came from the rest of Africa and 17 percent came from overseas, a remarkable achievement and proof that the festival is now a truly permanent fixture in the annual tourism calendar of Zanzibar and Tanzania as a whole.

The 7th edition of Sauti za Busara will take place February 11-16, 2010, and all those interested in participating or visiting should make early arrangements for their flights and hotel bookings to avoid disappointment when booking too late. Applications for active participation are due on July 31, 2009 to be assured of a place for 2010.