World celebrates the magical gift of music

JUNE  21 has been designated as World Music Day, a day the world celebrates the magical gift of music. It’s origins lie in France when, in 1976, American musician Joel Cohen, proposed an all-night music celebration to mark the beginning of the summer solstice and since then, it has become a worldwide phenomenon with over 32 countries worldwide having their own celebrations in their own way, regardless of the season.

It is a day of free music, where musicians - local and amateur - are allowed and encouraged to perform their music in public spaces without any restriction. 

In Tanzania the annual Karibu Music Festival, a three-day extravaganza of live music, dance and culture, is calling on artists of all genres participated at the third edition of the festival, last year in November at the Institute for Arts and Culture Bagamoyo (TaSUBa) in Bagamoyo.

First held in 2014, the Karibu Music Festival seeks to promote Tanzanian culture through the universal language of music and the arts. Incorporating a wide variety of music genres, the festival aims to nurture and promote African music and culture to the world, as well as introducing other countries’ cultures to local audiences and building opportunities for collaboration among all participants. 

The festival provided a platform for artists from Africa, Europe, America, and Asia who perform at the main stage and conduct workshops. It  also featured musicians selling and showcasing their albums, craftsmen and artisans selling unique products, local food and drink. The 2016 edition also incorporated a cinema and graffiti showcase.

Artists already confirmed for last year's event included South African singer Tribute ‘Birdie’ Mboweni. Having recently performed at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in April, Birdie is part of a new breed of soul musicians that are putting their own modern take on the classic sound, and doing it justice. Her voice evoked raw, organic emotion that penetrated deep into people’s  hearts.

Also performing was upcoming band The City from Cape Town, South Africa. Guided by a strong belief in paying tribute to their musical heritage, they blend African rhythms and grooves with electronic sounds and soulful melodies. In April 2015 they successfully launched their self-titled debut EP, which includes the single 'Long For You'.

From the opposite end of the continent, meanwhile, Egyptian band Karakeeb formed in 2011 by a group of musicians who agreed to discuss both the political and social problems of their area in the form of songs, often with satirical lyrics, fusing numerous different musical styles.

Moses Zamangwa was born in the Songea Region of southern Tanzania. He started out playing guitar in various gospel bands. He later started playing the saxophone and it quickly became his main instrument, to the point where he is now considered one of the most talented saxophonists in East Africa. His saxophone has taken Zamangwa all over the world, including Indonesia, Qatar, Turkey, Germany, Swaziland, France and Australia. Organised by Karibu Cultural Promotions in collaboration with Legendary Music Entertainment and Promotion, the Karibu festival also seeks to bring together businesses, the international community, youth, community organisations and the Tanzanian people on an annual basis to celebrate the country's diversity. The successful 2015 edition of the festival featured various artists, including the late Congolese artist Papa Wemba, Kenya's Sarabi and H_art the Band and local favourite Msafiri Zawose, among others.