In October 2005, 93-year old Zanzibari legend Bi Kidude bint Baraka was presented with the World Music Expo (WOMEX) lifetime achievement award. Busara Promotions in Zanzibar arranged for her travel to Gateshead Newcastle in the UK. “There was a hairy moment the day before we were due to leave Zanzibar when Bi Kidude had gone missing somewhere on the mainland. But in the end we caught the flight and all was well. This was a significant award, she faced stiff competition from the likes of Peter Gabriel and Miriam Makeba, among others. We were all immensely proud and it was an honour to accompany her,” enthused Yusuf Mahmoud, Director of Busara Promotions.

WOMEX is the world’s premier networking event exclusively dedicated to international music of all kinds. Attending were more than 2000 international professionals, 500 musicians, 300 exhibitors representing record companies, festival and concert promoters, agents, cultural institutions, the media and other sectors gathered from more than 84 countries.

A moving tribute to Bi Kidude was delivered by Banning Eyre, musician, author and co-editor of the renowned Afropop website and radio programmes, in which he informed delegates that “the singer, well in her nineties yet still sporting a bone-crushing handshake, received the honours in recognition of her more than 80 years of singing and serving as a cultural mediator and advisor of the younger generations, including on matters of sex and marriage - a proper symbol of World Music’s emancipatory, liberating and strengthening power.”

As Bi Kidude walked on stage to accept her reward, the two thousand WOMEX delegates gave her a five-minute standing ovation. A proud day it was indeed for Africa. Many were literally moved to tears as Bi Kidude sang unaccompanied and gave her acceptance speech.

“Bi Kidude was a popular choice for this year’s WOMEX Award. During the short film feature shown before she came on to receive her award, the classic feisty line ‘I drink, I smoke, I don’t need a microphone’ brought riotous applause from the assembled throng.”
Ian Anderson, fROOTS magazine


As Old As My Tongue film documentary
In celebration of Bi Kidude’s remarkable life, ScreenStation (UK), in partnership with Busara Promotions is currently putting finishing touches to a feature documentary film As Old As My Tongue: The Myth and Life of Bi Kidude to be screened at festivals and cinemas around the world in 2006.
As Old As My Tongue has been filmed over the last three years in Zanzibar and on tour in Europe with Bi Kidude. More than a biography, it’s an insight into the politics and personalities of Zanzibar’s contemporary society.

This year also sees the release of a new CD music compilation on Buda Musique label of Bi Kidude’s recordings old and new; accompanied by Sahib el-Arry, Zanzibar Taarab All Stars, Culture Musical Club, Afro Arab Grooves and Bi Kidude’s very own msondo ngoma group. Furthermore audiences at Sauti za Busara 2006 in Zanzibar will have a chance to see a new photographic exhibition centred around Bi Kidude, specially curated by Roger Armstrong of Globestyle/Ace Records (UK).