Today, AMA grantees Bonaya Doti Ibrahim, Salad Dibi Duba and Fatima Jarso Guyo will travel from Nairobi, Kenya to Stone Town, Zanzibar to participate in the 12th edition of the Sauti za Busara international music festival (February 12-15).
Bonaya Doti Ibrahim is a vocalist hailing from the Konso ethnic community in the remote region of Marsabit in North Eastern Kenya. Although he sings in Borana – the language of the dominant community in Marsabit – his music remains heavily steeped in Konso musical antecedents. Committed to harnessing the power of music to address deeper social and political problems, he roots his music in the tradition of praise-singing to comment on contemporary issues of conflict and peace, HIV, political corruption and youth unemployment.
Bonaya will be accompanied by his guitarist, Salad Diba Duba, who is trained in the typical Afro-Arabic style of Ethiopia and Northern Kenya, as well as his backup singer Fatima Jarso Guyo. Together they will perform with artist Bob Maghrib on the festival’s main stage on February 12.
AMA wishes Bonaya, Salad and Fatima safe travels and a wonderful festival!