Centred within the ancient walls of The Old Fort, the main stage hosts three nights of non-stop live music, with the main programme continuing Friday ‘til Sunday with performances from 5pm until 1am.

Celebrating ten years, the 2013 edition includes Best of the Best, including audience favourites of past years. An open air cinema in the adjacent amphitheatre screens music films from the African Continent and diaspora. Meanwhile throughout town, Zanzibar plays host to a variety of fringe events, aka Busara Xtra.

Sauti za Busara 2013 festival highlights include:

> 200 musicians: upcoming and established, acoustic and electric, from East Africa and beyond. Twenty plus groups, all performing 100% live.

> Best of the Best - audience favourites from past festivals.

> African Music Films: documentaries, music videos and live concert footage.

> Movers & Shakers: Daily networking forum for local and visiting arts professionals.

> Festival marketplace: food and drinks, music CDs, jewellery, clothing and handicrafts.

> Busara Xtra: Around festival time, the island is buzzing with a range of fringe events: traditional ngoma drum and dance, fashion shows, dhow races, open-mic sessions, after-parties and performances of Zanzibar's oldest taarab orchestras are arranged by the local community.

Cheikh Lô (Senegal) Mlimani Park Orchestra (Tanzania) Khaira Arby (Mali) Comrade Fatso & Chabvondoka (Zimbabwe) Culture Musical Club (Zanzibar / Tanzania) Atongo Zimba (Ghana / UK) N'Faly Kouyaté (Guinea) Nathalie Natiembe (Reunion) Zanzibar Unyago (Zanzibar / Tanzania) Nawal & Les Femmes de la Lune (Comoros / Mayotte) Owiny Sigoma Band (Kenya / UK) Mokoomba (Zimbabwe) Msafiri Zawose & Sauti Band (Tanzania) Mani Martin (Rwanda) Burkina Electric (Burkina Faso / USA) Lumumba Theatre (Tanzania) Sousou & Maher Cissoko (Senegal / Sweden) Super Maya Baikoko (Tanzania) Peter Msechu (Tanzania) Wakwetu Jazz Vibes (Tanzania) Safi Theatre Group (Tanzania) DCMA Young Stars (Zanzibar, Tanzania) Wanafunzi wa SOS (Zanzibar / Tanzania) and more