Before things were getting serious with a tight concert and workshop schedule, the Windhund used the last day off for a boat trip to Prison Island, some 30 minutes awazy from Zanzibar.

However, don’t think they just went snorkelling in the tuquoise, stunningly clear, perfectly cool sea, or looking for shells in the white, super soft sand dunes!

This is what the concert venue of the following day – Mtoni Palace – looks like, according to tour manager Peter Kuthan’s memory. The Windhund members used the wind shadow of a coral stone to discuss the proceedings for the first concert in Zanzibar on Sunday, 4th July. A good occasion to go through some vital questions, such as which text passages to recite and how to place the musicians within the Palace ruins.

On Friday night, the group, including the Zanzibar based Zumari horn players Siga & Sekembuke, joined some 300 football fans to watch the World Cup game: with Ghana being the last African team remaining, it was – even for those not so much into football – out of question who to cheer for!

Gymkhana is a basketball field in a residential area of Zanzibar, well outside the tourist area and the Stone Town, which hosts live concerts and sports screenings at night time. They serve local Kilimandjaro beer, grilled goat and great fries.

We were defeated by Uruguay, indeed, but for some minutes at the very end of the first half, the audience was united in goal ecstasy. Listen to an on site recording:

ghana scores

Overbooked flights and strict Egyptian airport officers couldn’t stop us: very early on Tuesday morning, the group (the musicians and their families, including three kids) arrived on Zanzibar airport, after two long-distance flights and a 20-minutes flight on a charming Cessna 208mb.

Windhund stumble out of the mini-plane in Zanzibar

Thanks to Anna Kuthan, one of the organisers, transport as well as accommodation in Zanzibar’s Stone Town were well arranged. After a breakfast (mango, banana – as fresh as it can get) the group took some time to unpack and rest a little. A brief walk through the twon centre was followed by late lunch / early dinner at a seaside Restaurant.

For those who don't know: it's the Indian Ocean!

Leisure & pleasure on the first day – the second one started with a visit to the Dhow Countries Music Academy, the DCMA, where next week workshops will be held. Kate Bingley, artistic director of the institution, introduced the purpose, the history and the current situation of the Music Academy, which focuses on teaching traditional styles of music but obviously does take into account the interests of young musicians.

The DCMA is located in the Old Customs House, a beautiful, recently renovated building on the seaside – more pictures and sounds will be posted next week (when we’ll be spending a lot of time there) – for the moment just two snapshots of Windhund musicians at the DCMA:

Karl Ritter disappeared and was found jamming with a musician in a class room.

Karl Ritter and Otto Lechner brought their own instruments to East Africa – Melissa Coleman, however, will play with cellos borrowed on site. The only tool she could take along was her own bow. At the first meet-and-greet at DCMA on Thursday, Kate Bingley of presented Melissa the instrument she will be playing with next week and also at the first concert on Sunday at Mtoni Palace.

Yes, it's okay, Melissa said after the first encounter with her cello.

After an evening sunset cuise with Dhows, local sailing boats, we headed to Serena Hotel in Stone Town. The concert of the world renowned group Culture Musical Club gave a first live impression of Taarab, the local music style, which the Windhund will be working with in the next couple of weeks.

The lady in the lavish pink dress sings of love and pride. And yes, it was dark...