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The Zanzibar International Film Festival: The Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) is probably East Africa's largest cultural event. Each year, in July, Zanzibar International Film Festival presents an exciting and varied program of International films and videos, music, dance, drama, art exhibitions, children and youth panoramas, women's events, village panoramas and workshops in various aspects of media production. The event normally commences with a Festival Parade, which consists of a mixed crowd of local people, tourists, acrobats, drummers and musicians all charging through the narrow streets of Stone Town.
Zanzibar International Film Festival is a unique initiative for the integrated and sustained preservation and development of the region's rich cultural heritage and the work of contemporary artists. It provides a platform for the empowerment and economic well being of the people of Zanzibar and it has strengthened and defined activities, which respond to issues of gender development, democracy, peace and marginalization.
Zanzibar fires the imagination with exotic intrigue, oriental promise and romantic imagery. The aims and ideas of Zanzibar International Film Festival reflect this fascinating island in the spirit of humanism and sharing, by showcasing the best artistic talent from the region and its global diaspora.
Mwaka Kogwa: Mwaka Kogwa is a four-day celebration to mark the beginning of the Persian New Year, and is most actively celebrated at Makunduchi, in the south of Zanzibar. The origins of this holiday are Zoroastrian (a Persian religion older than Islam). The day has a distinctive fairground feel to it, with hundreds of people clothed in a semblance of fancy dress or their "Sunday best", all out for a day's fun and celebration. Some of the events include the burning of a mock house and the purifying or cleaning of small temples, which house the effigies of good and evil. There is also the purging of ill will from both people and the land, to prepare for the New Year. This is imparted by furious running battles between groups of males, who beat each other with banana stems (in place of the wooden sticks and staves that were traditionally used).
In this fighting, everyone gets a chance to clear his grievances and so clear the air as the New Year rolls in. As the men display their performance, the women parade through the fields singing songs about life and love. They are dressed in their best clothes and are taunted by the men after the fight is over. The festivities vary from village to village but Makunduchi is where the biggest event takes place. All are welcome for the festival, because it is believed that anyone without a guest for this holiday will be unhappy. The dates are based on the Shirazi calendar and coincide with the Persian New Year, called Nairuzim.
Eid-el-Fitr: Eid-el-Fitr is the festival marking the end of the holy month of Ramadhan, the Islamic month of fasting and praying. The event is marked with praying, family feasts and gift giving. The festival is observed with great enthusiasm and pomp on the Island. The Eid-el-Fitr celebration lasts 4 days and guests can visit the activities held at Kariokoo and Mnazi Moja fairgrounds.
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