Safari Duo win Emerson’s Zanzibar Music Award

ZANZIBAR: During the 21st Sauti za Busara music festival, Safari Duo, a group from Zanzibar, won the 8th Emerson’s Zanzibar Foundation Music Award.

The duo, consisting of Felician Musa and Anna Katoa, who impressed the judges with their composition and performed song called “Napaza Sauti”.

The award was presented on the Amphitheatre stage at Old Fort in Zanzibar on the festival’s second day by last year’s winner, Tryphon Evarest.

The Emerson Zanzibar Foundation Music Award is given to young and talented Zanzibari vocalists, singers, and poets who create captivating pieces and whose creativity sustains Zanzibar’s musical and poetry traditions.

The award was founded by a tourist and entertainment investor named Emerson, who, after visiting Zanzibar and appreciating its culture, decided to initiate the awards to support local cultural groups.

The Emerson Cultural Organisation, based in Zanzibar, manages the awards. Six musical groups participated in the competition, and the organisers highlighted each group’s outstanding performances.

Before the competition, the organisation offered training to the participating groups from Zanzibar to build their capacity and awareness and facilitate the exchange of experiences.

After presenting Safari Duo with the award and the 2m/- prize, Ayman Josiah Msumali, one of the award organisers, congratulated the duo, saying, “Congratulations to Safari Duo (Felician and Anna) on winning the 8th Emerson’s Zanzibar Foundation Music Award!.”

Also Nassor Said, an official of the Emerson Cultural Organization, spoke with the Daily News and explained that Emerson is a music and cultural lover in general and founded the awards as a way of reciprocating his appreciation for the Zanzibar society.