Artists

 Jackie Akello is a gifted singer/songwriter and performer from northern Uganda, who sings in Acholi, Luganda, Swahili and English. She has a richly textured organic voice that transverses easily between urban and local sounds.

Akello is well known for several songs including "Amari" (a love ballad), "Samanya" (a gospel hit) read more

Nwafo Dolly Sorel, aka Lydol was born in Yaoundé in 1994. She got involved with music and culture whilst at secondary school. In 2010 she won a national competition in the slam category. From there, she started performing at the Goethe Institut, the Centre Culturel Camerounais and other venues read more

M'Toro Chamou was born in Mayotte, in the Comoros archipelago. A singer-songwriter and guitarist, he is one of the emblematic figures of Mayotte music, with songs and messages that will leave their mark on Mayotte for generations into the future.

M'Toro’s unique voice, powerful texts, and guitar read more

 Getruda A. Kisome, aka Ge2 is aged just 24 years and rapidly making a name for herself in the bongo flava scene. “I like Sauti za Busara festival” she says, “because it helps us get to know different artists from different countries and also promotes our culture internationally”. Ge2’s star read more

Mokoomba hail from a town called Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, a town that is home to the mighty waterfall also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders); one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The band's six members grew up as friends in Chinotimba township where they read more

Taarab music has defined Zanzibar's aural landscape for over a century, renowned for its lush mix of Arabic and western instruments, diva-worthy vocalizations, and allusive Swahili lyrics. The venerable and syncretic form is ambitiously renewed by Rajab Suleiman & Kithara. This lean and nimble group has uncovered the form's read more