Rainforest World Music

The 10th edition of the Rainforest World Music Festival in Santubong, near Kuching, Sarawak, from July 13-15, promises to be a reunion to remember, and artistes are already being confirmed for this special anniversary event.

This year, there will be no new acts, with all artistes performing making return visits after having previously taken this annual festival by storm. Acts confirmed thus far hail from the four corners of the world and will eventually total some 20, organisers have revealed.

From Africa come Madagascar’s Tarika Be and Zimbabwe’s Black Umfolosi. Led by charismatic singer songwriter Hanitra Rosoanaivo, Tarika will surely be welcome, while Black Umfolosi makes an unprecedented third visit to the festival.

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Third edition of Sauti za Busara (Sounds of Wisdom) - Kenia

The venue will be at the Old Fort in Stone Town for four nights and then it decamps to Kendwa beach on Zanzibar’s north coast for a special grand finale featuring international DJs.

Organised by Busara Promotions, a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit cultural organisation based in Zanzibar, the 2006 Festival showcases a rich and dynamic programme including ngoma traditional music, taarab, kidumbak, rumba, muziki wa dansi, mchiriku, Swahili hiphop bongo flava, Afropop fusions, mystic and religious music, theatre, comedy, acrobatics and dance.

Of the 40 groups participating, most are from the Swahili-speaking nations: Zanzibar, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Burundi, with six or seven specially selected groups from Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Europe.

According to Busara Promotions Director, Yusuf Mahmoud, among confirmed artists include Ferooz (Bongo Flava megastar), Mchinga Sound (Muziki wa Dansi), Jagwa Music (Mchiriku from Dar es Salaam - favourites at WOMEX UK 2005), Lady Jaydee is also expected to show up with a live band, Culture Musical Club (Zanzibar taarab), Amina (Mombasa taarab), Sinachuki Kidumbak, Bi Kidude Msondo group, Black Roots (Zanzibar), Mkalimala Culture Group (traditional music from Mtwara), Taffetas (Kora fusion from Mali, Guinea-Bissau and Europe), Fanaza (Swaziland), Ukoo Flani MauMau (Nairobi hiphop), New Sound Band (Burundi), Atongo Zimba (Ghana) and The Shrine Synchrosystem featuring DJs Rita and Max from London, performing live with musicians and rappers from West and East Africa. Other artists are yet to confirm.

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