Zanzibar Festival
Tours
SOUNDS OF WISDOM (Sauti za
Busara)
MUSIC FESTIVAL TOUR:
FEB.11 -23, 2009
http://www.zanzibarfestivaltours.com
TOLL FREE (U.S. &
CANADA): 877-818-6877
GLOBAL TOLL FREE: +
800-8186-8770
Email: info@zanzibarfestivaltours.com
Links
www.busaramusic.org
www.africa-ata.org/zanzibar.htm
Quick now! What are the
facts about Zanzibar?
• Zanzibar is
popularly known as the "spice islands."
• Zanzibar is located
about 30 K off the coast of mainland Tanzania in
the Indian Ocean.
• Zanzibar is
actually an archipelago with the two main
Islands of Zanzibar (also known as Unguja, the
larger one) and Pemba (the smaller of the two).
• Zanzibar was
incorporated into the United Republic of
Tanzania in 1964.
• Zanzibar, which in
1992 had only 723,300 people, does have its own
democratically elected president and government
that run the internal affairs of the Islands.
• Zanzibar's Serena
Inn on the Stone Town waterfront is a splendid
example of the careful preservation of historic
buildings. This project undertaken by the Aga
Kahn Fund for Economic Development, owner and
manager of the Serena Hotels, involved the
restoration and rehabilitation of two historic
buildings , the Old Extelcoms Building and the
Chinese Doctors' Residence.
• Zanzibar has the
largest number of carved doors in East
Africa.
• Zanzibar's Stone
Town has 50 mosques and four Hindu
temples.
The House of Wonders is
one of the first buildings in East Africa to
have electricity and Stone Town's oldest
existing building.
In 1987, the Stone Town
Conservation Authority was created to provide
strict guidelines for architectural design and
materials used in all renovations of public and
privately owned buildings.
• Zanzibar is the
world's oldest functioning Swahili
city.
• Zanzibar has seen
an influx from the British, Dutch, Portuguese,
Egyptian, Phoenicians, Assyrians, Indians,
Chinese, Persians, Arabs and Sumerians at
various times in its history.
• Zanzibar offers the
visitor a variety of pristine beaches and
stunning coral reefs.
• Zanzibar's Muslim
worshippers, during daylight hours of Ramadan
lunar month, may not eat, drink, smoke or have
sex. Exempt only are the sick, young children
and travelers .
The earliest visitation to
Zanzibar was in the 8th century, when the Arab
traders arrived.
• Zanzibar's oldest
remaining building is the 11th century mosque at
Kizimkazi .
The name Swahili comes
from the Arab word sawahil which means
'coast'.
• Zanzibar named Best
Island Destination in Africa and Middle
East
• Zanzibar, the
"spice islands" of the Indian Ocean, and part of
Tanzania, was named by the Travel+Leisure
Magazine's readers as the highest-ranking Island
in Africa and the Middle East in the World's
Best Awards Readers' Poll. Zanzibar lures
the American traveler, not just because the name
itself conjures up a mystical and romantic
image, but also because it is known as a
peaceful, stable and hospitable island, just
like mainland Tanzania.
Festivals Zanzibari
Style
"Zanzibar," the name
itself conjures up a mystical and romantic
image, consists of Unguja (known as Zanzibar
Island), Pemba and some 50 smaller surrounding
island and islets. Already popular for its
beaches, water sports, scuba diving (using
environmentally-friendly equipment), underwater
photography, reef watching, dolphin watching and
snorkeling, Zanzibar is now focusing on
promoting its many year-round festivals
showcasing the diverse cultures and history of
Tanzania's Swahili coastal islands.
"What makes Zanzibar's
festivals unique and popular with visitors is
that they are for the local population as well
as for the tourists," says Mohammed Vuai,
Executive Secretary of the Zanzibar Tourism
Commission. "There are events and activities
that take place in the local communities
throughout the islands."
Swahili Music &
Culture
For many years, our
editors and colleagues in the Africa Travel
Association have been impressed by the Busara
Swahili Music Festival in Stone town. So, to
answer your question in advance - who is Busara?
For the record, Busara Promotions, organizers of
the festival, is a non-governmental,
non-political, non-profit cultural organization
based in Zanzibar. The above photos illustrate
the quality of presentation at its popular
events. Mission and Vision
Established in 2003, the
company's mission is as follows: "To promote and
develop opportunities for local and
international music and performing artists
within the East African region, work to
strengthen the local arts infrastructure and
build networks internationally, for the social,
cultural and economic growth of Africa and the
dhow region" Busara's vision is for Zanzibar to
become internationally recognized and valued as
a cultural epicentre for Africa and the Indian
Ocean region. This is in the context of a
broader cross-regional network which links
festivals, venues and promoters, performing
artists, music institutions and related
organizations around Africa, the Indian Ocean
and beyond. Busara Promotions' main event is the
Sauti za Busara Swahili Music Festival, held
annually in Stone Town, Zanzibar each
February.
Swahili
Encounters
Another of Busara's
principal activities is the Swahili Encounters
project. The mission of Swahili Encounters is
"to encourage audiences to celebrate pluralism
of cultural and religious diversity; to promote
and develop opportunities for musicians and
performing artists along the Swahili coast and
islands to connect, learn and perform together;
and to develop regional artistic cooperation,
for the social, cultural and economic growth of
East Africa and the Swahili region." Keep in
touch with events and activities in Zanzibar on
www.africa-ata.org/zanzibar.htm
Zanzibar Festival
Tours
http://www.zanzibarfestivaltours.com
TOLL FREE (U.S. & CANADA):
877-818-6877
GLOBAL TOLL FREE: +
800-8186-8770
Email: info@zanzibarfestivaltours.com
Recommended
Links
www.busaramusic.org
www.ziff.or.tz
www.fotograferen.net
www.africa-ata.org/zanzibar.htm
www.fairmont.com
www.236hurumzi.com
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