Monday, February 15, 2010

Sauti cover up

Back from the friendliest music festival, Sauti Za Busara. It was a great experience. The music was fantastic with beautiful, sultry voices, crazy drum beats, and guitar stringing. It was packed with foreigners, expats, the local Zanzibari community, folks from the mainland, and of course my office. There was some dancing, not as much as I expected, a lot of illegal drug usage, more than what I expected, and some down right dirtiness. I was impressed and saddened by the amount of fuel this festival consumed. Zanzibar has been without power since December with no hope of it returning before March. The island has been consumed by the noise of the generators, the smell of petrol, and just down right uncomfortableness for months on end.

What shocked me most is the way many people, especially women, were dressed. When folks think of Zanzibar as a fun island getaway with lazy days on the beach. This is true, but only on the private beaches. It is not an island where you can walk around in your bikini with a skimpy cover up, not an island where you your cleavage is everywhere, your shoulders are bare, and your legs exposed. Zanzibar is 95% and therefore, to respect the community one must cover up. Nobody is telling anyone to wear a hijab, just don't expose skin that doesn't need to be exposed. The website for the music festival had warnings on what not to wear, all the guide books mention it, and its pretty much common sense to respect the community you're in. Unfortunately, that was not the case here.

I didn't take my slr because I didn't want to lug it around so, I didn't get many good shots. Here's a few to give an idea of the fest.

He was trying to teach her how to shake her shoulders.

stoned Israelis

One of the skimpiest dressed girls who also enjoyed dancing in front of everyone near the stage.

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