Festivals in Stone Town Zanzibar

Emerson Zanzibar Foundation involved in Stone Town Festivals

Festivals in Stone Town - Sauti Za Busara

Sauti za Busara Zanzibar Festival 2024

Sauti za Busara is an annual music festival that takes place around the second weekend of February in Stone Town, Zanzibar.

This world famous African music festival has three stages over four days. With established and upcoming artists from the African continent and diaspora, the festival aims to showcase music with cultural identity. Networking sessions help professionals connect with each other.

Tickets with 50% discount are available for African passport-holders and EAC Residents, and Tanzanian nationals can enjoy further discounts. Sauti za Busara is recognized as one of Africa’s best music events by BBC and CNN.

Emerson Zanzibar’s Secret Garden presents an additional music event on the Thursday or the Friday before the main stage events. See our Zanzibar Events Page or social media for more details

Get tickets at busaramusic.org from 7th Feb 2024 at 11:00am.

Sauti za Busara 2024 & Emerson Zanzibar Foundation Music Awards

East Africa’s biggest music festival

For more details seeour Music Award 2024 Article

TAZalii070ex-Markus_Meissl
Sauti za Busara Festival 2024 - Photo Markus Meissl
Dhruv chauhan photography. Szb 2-64
Emerson's Zanzibar Music Award 2024 - Photo Markus Meissl

Thursday 8 February 2024
Busara PLUS at the Secret Garden

The Sauti Za Busara Festival is here! Come join us on Thursday Night at Secret Garden, Emerson Spice, Stone Town with Sauti za Busara and a special performance by Dazz Jazz!

Join us every Friday and Wednesday this month for some amazing music!

Starting from 20.00

Secret Garden is found in Emerson Spice Hotel, Stone Town

Reservations recommended, please book via WhatsApp +255 774 483 483
or es.reception@emersonzanzibar.com

IG Post THURS
Anna Kattoa Bantu Sound

Live Music Events Throughout the Year

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Wednesday Night Live Magic at Secret Garden, Emerson Spice with Najma & The Group 8pm

Wednesday Night Live Magic at Secret Garden, Emerson Spice with Najma & The Group 8pm

Feb 19, 8:00pm

Secret Garden At Emerson SpiceStone Town, Map

Come join the Wednesday Night Live Magic at Secret Garden, Emerson Spice, Stone Town with Najma & The Group.


Every Wednesday and Friday we have amazing live music


Starting from 20.00


February 2025 programme:
Wednesday 5th February - Sibuile Xaba
Friday 7th February - Culture Musical Club
Wednesday 12th February - Brain Boy
Friday 14th February - Chris Nova
Wednesday 19th February - Najma & The Group
Friday 21st February - Zenji Boy
Wednesday 26th February - Wakorofi Trio
Friday 28th February - Leo Mkanyia


Entrance Fee of Tsh 10,000


Secret Garden is found in Emerson Spice Hotel, Stone Town


Reservations recommended, please book via WhatsApp +255 774 483 483
or reception@emersonspice.com for restaurant bookings and reservations@emersonspice.com for room reservations.


Overnight stays can be arranged in one of the hotel rooms, enquire with reservations@emersonzanzibar.com for the rates and availability at Emerson Spice and Emerson on Hurumzi


#StoneTownEvents #zanzibarlife #zanzibarevents #SecretGarden #SecretGardenZanzibar #EmersonZanzibar #Wednesdaynightlive #FridayNightLive #Livemusicstonetown #livemusiczanzibar #stonetownrestaurants #placestoeatstonetown #stonetowndining
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5 interested  ·  1 going
Friday Night Live Magic at Secret Garden, Emerson Spice with Zenji Boy 8pm

Friday Night Live Magic at Secret Garden, Emerson Spice with Zenji Boy 8pm

Feb 21, 8:00pm

Secret Garden At Emerson SpiceStone Town, Map

Come join the Friday Night Live Magic at Secret Garden, Emerson Spice, Stone Town with Zenji Boy.


Every Wednesday and Friday we have amazing live music


Starting from 20.00


February 2025 programme:
Wednesday 5th February - Sibuile Xaba
Friday 7th February - Culture Musical Club
Wednesday 12th February - Brain Boy
Friday 14th February - Chris Nova
Wednesday 19th February - Najma & The Group
Friday 21st February - Zenji Boy
Wednesday 26th February - Wakorofi Trio
Friday 28th February - Leo Mkanyia


Entrance Fee of Tsh 10,000


Secret Garden is found in Emerson Spice Hotel, Stone Town


Reservations recommended, please book via WhatsApp +255 774 483 483
or reception@emersonspice.com for restaurant bookings and reservations@emersonspice.com for room reservations.


Overnight stays can be arranged in one of the hotel rooms, enquire with reservations@emersonzanzibar.com for the rates and availability at Emerson Spice and Emerson on Hurumzi


#StoneTownEvents #zanzibarlife #zanzibarevents #SecretGarden #SecretGardenZanzibar #EmersonZanzibar #Wednesdaynightlive #FridayNightLive #Livemusicstonetown #livemusiczanzibar #stonetownrestaurants #placestoeatstonetown #stonetowndining
... See MoreSee Less

4 interested  ·  1 going
Wednesday Night Live Magic at Secret Garden, Emerson Spice with Wakorofi Trio 8pm

Wednesday Night Live Magic at Secret Garden, Emerson Spice with Wakorofi Trio 8pm

Feb 26, 8:00pm

Secret Garden At Emerson SpiceStone Town, Map

Come join the Wednesday Night Live Magic at Secret Garden, Emerson Spice, Stone Town with Wakorofi Trio.


Every Wednesday and Friday we have amazing live music


Starting from 20.00


February 2025 programme:
Wednesday 5th February - Sibuile Xaba
Friday 7th February - Culture Musical Club
Wednesday 12th February - Brain Boy
Friday 14th February - Chris Nova
Wednesday 19th February - Najma & The Group
Friday 21st February - Zenji Boy
Wednesday 26th February - Wakorofi Trio
Friday 28th February - Leo Mkanyia


Entrance Fee of Tsh 10,000


Secret Garden is found in Emerson Spice Hotel, Stone Town


Reservations recommended, please book via WhatsApp +255 774 483 483
or reception@emersonspice.com for restaurant bookings and reservations@emersonspice.com for room reservations.


Overnight stays can be arranged in one of the hotel rooms, enquire with reservations@emersonzanzibar.com for the rates and availability at Emerson Spice and Emerson on Hurumzi


#StoneTownEvents #zanzibarlife #zanzibarevents #SecretGarden #SecretGardenZanzibar #EmersonZanzibar #Wednesdaynightlive #FridayNightLive #Livemusicstonetown #livemusiczanzibar #stonetownrestaurants #placestoeatstonetown #stonetowndining
... See MoreSee Less

6 interested  ·  1 going
Friday Night Live Magic at Secret Garden, Emerson Spice with Leo Mkanyia 8pm

Friday Night Live Magic at Secret Garden, Emerson Spice with Leo Mkanyia 8pm

Feb 28, 8:00pm

Secret Garden At Emerson SpiceStone Town, Map

Come join the Friday Night Live Magic at Secret Garden, Emerson Spice, Stone Town with Leo Mkanyia.


Every Wednesday and Friday we have amazing live music


Starting from 20.00


February 2025 programme:
Wednesday 5th February - Sibuile Xaba
Friday 7th February - Culture Musical Club
Wednesday 12th February - Brain Boy
Friday 14th February - Chris Nova
Wednesday 19th February - Najma & The Group
Friday 21st February - Zenji Boy
Wednesday 26th February - Wakorofi Trio
Friday 28th February - Leo Mkanyia


Entrance Fee of Tsh 10,000


Secret Garden is found in Emerson Spice Hotel, Stone Town


Reservations recommended, please book via WhatsApp +255 774 483 483
or reception@emersonspice.com for restaurant bookings and reservations@emersonspice.com for room reservations.


Overnight stays can be arranged in one of the hotel rooms, enquire with reservations@emersonzanzibar.com for the rates and availability at Emerson Spice and Emerson on Hurumzi


#StoneTownEvents #zanzibarlife #zanzibarevents #SecretGarden #SecretGardenZanzibar #EmersonZanzibar #Wednesdaynightlive #FridayNightLive #Livemusicstonetown #livemusiczanzibar #stonetownrestaurants #placestoeatstonetown #stonetowndining
... See MoreSee Less

21 interested  ·  4 going
Step into the Soul of Zanzibar

Stone Town is a thriving, historic and cosmopolitan place. There is always something going on.  Emerson Zanzibar hotels and restaurants are at the heart of the many of the annual events in Stone Town – Sauti za Busara, Zanzibar Film Festivals and Food Festivals.

Emerson Spice and Emerson on Hurumzi are also our hosting weekly or daily events; live music performances with talented local musicians and bands, art exhibitions and many other cultural, community events.

The Princess Salme Museum is next to the Emerson on Hurumzi Hotel.  The magical, mysterious and romantic story of the Princess of a Sultan, who lifted the veil on the royal family life by writing a book, her artifacts and secrets are to be found in the  museum.

Don’t miss out, please follow our social media channels to keep up-to-date with the very latest in what is happening in Stone Town, Zanzibar.

 Please Follow and Like Us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube:

 

Step into the Soul of Zanzibar

Authentic Music and Live Events

ZIFF

Zanzibar Film Festival

The Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) is East Africa’s largest film and arts festival, exhibiting the latest and best films and promoting film talents from across the African continent and beyond.

The festival’s extensive programme includes film, performance, music, workshops and children’s events, as well as the large-scale outdoor films in the amphitheatre at the Old Fort for which the festival is renowned. There also also several pop-up events, workshops and training in media literacy, film curation and filmmaking within Tanzania, ensuring that the festival continues to act as a flagship arts organisation for East Africa.

Emerson Zanzibar Art Gallery, Exhibitions & Artists

Celebrating Art – Art Exhibition & Artists’ Stories

There are regular exhibitions in the Emerson Art Gallery & Café which can be found by an entrance next to Emerson on Hurumzi Hotel in Stone Town.  There is also an Art Gallery in the Secret Garden in Emerson Spice Hotel. 

Entrance is free for all visitors

Every year there is also Emerson Zanzibar Foundation Award event.  Follow us on Facebook or on Instagram to find out about our Art Exhibitions and Art Awards are in Stone Town.

Stonetown

Zanzibar Wedding Festival

Henna painters, makeup artist and fashion designers – they all come together at the Zanzibar Wedding Festival. The event aims to promote Zanzibari culture – and promote the island as a wedding destination.

In 2022, the festival is scheduled to take place from 2 till 5 December.  

The event will have an array of exiting activities that focuses on reviving the traditions in a new and innovative way through events, shows, discussion panels, exhibitions and more, creating exclusive and comprehensive take on highlighting investment opportunities in several sectors of the Wedding Industry; investment, economy, lifestyle, entertainment and industry’s infrastructure potential in Zanzibar 

Stone Town

Zanzibar Book Fair 2023

Zanzibar Book Fair will be the inaugural celebration of Zanzibari literature. Organized by the Zanzibar Renaissance Literary Society, this annual event will be the first of its kind meeting place for local and global writers to exchange ideas, be inspired, and peruse thousands of books!

The Keynote speaker for this inaugural edition will be Prof. Abdulrazak Gurnah, Nobel Laureate in Literature 2021. The homecoming for this beloved son of Zanzibar will be a poignant start for the book fair where he will also be headlining the African launch of Peponi, a Swahili translation of his 1994 novel, Paradise. The translator is the ever-wonderful Dr. Ida Hadjivayanis, Senior Lecturer in Swahili Studies, SOAS University of London.

The Zanzibar Book Fair will be held from 20th to 22nd of October, 2023.

Keynote Speaker

Prof. Abdulrazak Gurnah

We are on Instagram
Emerson’s Zanzibar Foundation Music Award - Busara Xtra

Join us for the 9th Music Award!

Live performances of the contestants for the Award

🗓️ Thursday 13 February 2025
16.00 in the band stand in Forodhani Gardens

Welcome all!

Music Award Ceremony
Saturday 15 February 2025
20.30 in the Amphitheatre in the Old Fort 
Sauti za Busara music festival

….

*Emerson’s Zanzibar Foundation - Tuzo ya Muziki*
Busara Xtra

Jiunge nasi kwenye Tuzo ya 9 ya Muziki ya Emerson Foundation!

Live performances ya washiriki wa Tuzo
Alhamisi 13 Februari 2025
Saa 10 jioni - Bustani za Forodhani - Band Stand
Karibuni Wote!

Sherehe ya Tuzo ya Muziki
Jumamosi 15 Februari 2025
Saa 2.30 usiku - Amphitheatre Ngome Kongwe 
Tamasha la Sauti za Busara

@emersonzanzibarfoundation
@emersonzanzibar
@sautizabusara

Emerson’s Zanzibar Foundation Music Award - Busara Xtra

Join us for the 9th Music Award!

Live performances of the contestants for the Award

🗓️ Thursday 13 February 2025
16.00 in the band stand in Forodhani Gardens

Welcome all!

Music Award Ceremony
Saturday 15 February 2025
20.30 in the Amphitheatre in the Old Fort
Sauti za Busara music festival

….

*Emerson’s Zanzibar Foundation - Tuzo ya Muziki*
Busara Xtra

Jiunge nasi kwenye Tuzo ya 9 ya Muziki ya Emerson Foundation!

Live performances ya washiriki wa Tuzo
Alhamisi 13 Februari 2025
Saa 10 jioni - Bustani za Forodhani - Band Stand
Karibuni Wote!

Sherehe ya Tuzo ya Muziki
Jumamosi 15 Februari 2025
Saa 2.30 usiku - Amphitheatre Ngome Kongwe
Tamasha la Sauti za Busara

@emersonzanzibarfoundation
@emersonzanzibar
@sautizabusara
...

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Experience "HomeComing" by Othman Ali at Emersons Zanzibar Gallery

Join us for the upcoming exhibition "HomeComing" by renowned artist Othman Ali at the Emersons Zanzibar Foundation Art Gallery from January 23 to February 16, 2025. This marks Othman’s first exhibition in Zanzibar, where his vibrant, multi-layered artworks will take center stage.

Drawing on his diverse background, Othman Ali blends Zanzibari, Arab, European, and US influences, creating dynamic works that are rich in color, texture, and cultural storytelling.

Opening Date: January 23, 2025
📍Emersons Zanzibar Foundation Art Gallery
Duration: Until February 16, 2025

Be part of this unforgettable cultural celebration!

#OthmanAli #HomeComingExhibition #ZanzibarArt #ContemporaryArt

Experience "HomeComing" by Othman Ali at Emersons Zanzibar Gallery

Join us for the upcoming exhibition "HomeComing" by renowned artist Othman Ali at the Emersons Zanzibar Foundation Art Gallery from January 23 to February 16, 2025. This marks Othman’s first exhibition in Zanzibar, where his vibrant, multi-layered artworks will take center stage.

Drawing on his diverse background, Othman Ali blends Zanzibari, Arab, European, and US influences, creating dynamic works that are rich in color, texture, and cultural storytelling.

Opening Date: January 23, 2025
📍Emersons Zanzibar Foundation Art Gallery
Duration: Until February 16, 2025

Be part of this unforgettable cultural celebration!

#OthmanAli #HomeComingExhibition #ZanzibarArt #ContemporaryArt
...

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