DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 9 -- I DID not make it to Zanzibar this time, but I was not going to let the distance silence my pen.

Through videos, live coverage and streamed performances, I watched FuTopia come alive in Fumba, a burst of colour, rhythm, culture and energy unfolding before my eyes.

I may have been miles away, but the festival still gave me something to write about.

From the gates of Fumba, the second edition of the FuTopia Festival Zanzibar opened with a colourful parade that turned the streets into a moving stage.

Cultural dancers dressed in khanga brought tradition to the celebration, while circus performers, comedians and drummers added a playful and energetic touch.

One performer, walking high above the crowd on stilts, ap...