FESTIVALS

Zanzibar’s rituals find their expression through the festivals and arts that colour the island throughout the year. The Zoroastrian past is revived annually at the Mwakakogwa Festival in Mikunduchi, a traditional festival of colour and rituals to cleanse hearts of evil and appease God. In February, regional Swahili music lends its voice to “Sauti Ya Busara”, Zanzibar’s music carnival.

The Music Academy of the Dhow Countries and the Stone Town Cultural Centre regularly offer performances and exhibitions to pique one’s interest. ZIFF’s Festival of The Dhow Countries, the second biggest film festival in Africa, showcases the talent of local and global filmmakers, musicians, artists, photographers and fashion designers. It also provides a myriad of opportunities for everyone to develop his own artistic skills. This two-week event in June/July sees Stonetown’s historic waterfront come alive with passionate celebration of cultural entertainment, and visitors leave enriched with knowledge, not just of Africa, but of distant lands that imprinted Zanzibar’s world.