Sauti za Busara - February
Sauti za Busara means sounds of wisdom and is East Africa’s
premier music festival, showcasing the best the Swahili speaking
world has to offer. Every February, Stone Town’s Old Fort
becomes a hive of activity, hosting bongo flava stars, ngoma
dancers, drummers, taarab and hip hop at the friendliest music
festival on the planet.
Zanzibar International Film Festival – June/July
The Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) is one of
East Africa’s largest cultural events and usually takes place
each year in July. ZIFF presents an exciting and varied
programme of international films and videos, music, dance, drama
and art exhibitions. In 2007, ZIFF celebrated its 10th
anniversary, the festival attracting larger and larger crowds
each year and gaining international prominence, giving a
platform for artwork from across the Dhow Countries of Tanzania,
India, Oman etc, giving a unique opportunity to preserve and
promote understanding of culture from across the Dhow Countries.
Mwaka Kogw a –July
The last week of July sees the village of Makunduchi
celebrate Mwaka Kogwa, the Persian New Year. The festival is a
riot of colour, filled with rituals and fun. Men are given the
chance to mock fight each other with banana stems, to clear any
past disputes for the new year, women dress in their best
clothes and sing songs about family, love and life.
The highlight of the festival is the traditional burning of a
hut, said to signify the passing of the old year and the start
of the new. This ritual is thought to ensure the safety of the
village in case of fire during the year and to purge evil from
the people and the land. After the fire and fighting, there’s
song, dance, drumming and feasting. Hospitality is extended to
all people as the locals believe that any villager without a
guest will be the recipient of bad luck and the party goes on
till dawn.
