Festivals

Mwaka Kogwa
A four-day-long celebration, Mwaka Kogwa is best observed at Makunduchi, a village in the south part of Zanzibar. The origins of this holiday are Zoroastrian (a Persian religion older than Islam). It is a celebration of the Shirazi New Year and some of the events include the burning of the hut and mock fights. These fights are between men who defend themselves with banana stems (in place of the sticks that were formerly used), and this fighting, which anyone can join in, is said to let everyone air their grievances and so clear the air as the new year rolls in. As the men fight, the women stroll through the fields singing songs about life and love. They are dressed in their best clothes and taunt the men after the fight is over. The festivities vary from village to village but Makunduchi is where the biggest events take place. All are welcome for the festival because it is a local belief that anyone without a guest during this holiday is unhappy. The holiday is held every year around the third week of July, but check with a local tour operator to get the official dates.

Religious Festivals - Eid ul Fitr
Eid-ul-Fitr is the festival at the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. Also known as Eid or Sikukuu (days of celebration, festival or holiday), this festival is a time of giving charity. The fasting of Ramadan is meant to remind people what life is like for their less fortunate brethren and the alms giving at Eid (known as zakat-el-Fitr) is a continuation along the same idea. Both fasting and the giving of alms are two of the five pillars of the Islamic faith. Because the Islamic calendar is different from that of Christians, the dates for Ramadan and Eid change every year by about 10 days so check a local Islamic calendar if you're looking to visit Zanzibar during Eid. Ramadan is a holy month in which drinking, smoking, and eating during daylight hours for Muslims is prohibited. Dress codes should be strictly adhered to. Some restaurants are closed during this month and outside of town it can be difficult to get any food at all during daytime hours. All discos are closed during Ramadan.

Eid is a joyful experience and everybody is out and about celebrating. In Zanzibar the partying continues for four solid days and many open areas around town and in the villages turn into festival venues. It is a great time to see all the little girls in their new dresses and the boys in their new sneakers/trainers. The girls wear kohl around the eyes regardless of age and the boys run around firing cap guns. There is a general feeling of celebration as people go from house to house visiting friends and relatives and attend taarab concerts and discos at night. Ramadan lasts for one full cycle of the moon (29-30 days) and is followed directly by Eid, which lasts for four days. In town, the festivities can be seen at the Mnazi Moja grounds across from the National Museum or at the Kariakoo fair grounds out by the Main Post Office.

Religious Festivals - Eid ul Hajj
Eid ul Hajj (also known as Eid-al-Adha or Eid al-Kabir) is the high point of the hajj season when many Muslims go on a pilgrimage to Mecca. The second celebratory feast of the Muslims is this feast of sacrifice, and Zanzibaris celebrate this three-day event with fervour. As the name implies, the importance of this festival lies in the sacrificing of certain animals as a commemoration of the prophet Ibraham (Abraham).

The marking of Eid al-Adha celebrates Ibrahim's willingness to obey God. Told by God to sacrifice his most valued possession, he came to realise that the dream meant he had to sacrifice his son, Ishmael. When told of the dream, Ishmael said he must do as commanded. When the blindfolded Ibrahim took up a knife and made the sacrifice a voice from heaven told him to look down, and he saw that instead of Ishmael lying in front of him there was a ram. Ibrahim and Ishmael had both survived their test of faith.

The visitor to Zanzibar during this festival will witness the re-enactment of Ibrahim's obedience by the sacrificing of goats and sheep. The meat from the sacrificed animal is usually divided into thirds, with one taken by the family, a third given to neighbours and relatives with the remaining third being given to the poor. Along with prayers and sermons, the mutual visiting of friends and family, lavish meals and the giving of presents, this festival is a joyous time in Zanzibar and also marks the end of the Hajj season, when many local pilgrims return from their visit to the holy cities of Medina and Mecca.

Zanzibar Cultural Festival
Zanzibar Cultural Festival takes place towards the end of July each year, shortly after the international ZIFF Festival of the Dhow Countries. Drawing cultural troupes from different countries and many from Zanzibar, the festival is marked with strong traditional customs and a rich heritage  of culture. It is decorated with "taarab" music, traditional dances, arts and crafts. It is held in various venues around Zanzibar Town, as well as incorporating street carnivals, fairs, canoe races and the bull fight from Pemba.

ZIFF Festival of the Dhow Countries
The Festival of the Dhow Countries is now the largest annual cultural event in East Africa, and among the eight major festivals in sub-Saharan Africa.  It is scheduled annually around the first two weeks in July. The festival celebrates the arts and cultures of the African Continent, India, Pakistan, Gulf States, Iran and the Indian Ocean islands. It features an international film and video competition, music, theatre and performing arts, workshops, seminars, conferences and other related arts and cultural programmes. Village Panorama extends the festival to rural communities; Women’s Panorama provides a focus for women’s issues and Children’s Panorama provides for the participation of children and youths. The festival programme is centred in a variety of magnificent venues near the seafront in the historic Stone Town.