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INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The Zanzibar International film festival (ZIFF) is probably east Africa^’s largest cultural event. Each year in July Ziff presents an exciting and varied programmed of international films and videos, music, dance, drama, art exhibitions, children and youth panoramas, women events, village panoramas and workshops in various aspects of media production. The event normally commence with a Festival parade, which consists of a mixed crowd of local people, tourists, acrobats, drummers and musicians, all changing through the narrow streets of Stone town.

Ziff 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 Ziff reflect this fascinating island in the spirit of humanism and sharing, by showcasing the best artistic talent from the region and its global Diaspora.

EID –EL –FITR

Eid –el-Fitr is the festival making the end of the holy month of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting and praying to Allah. Eid –el-fitr is the biggest most respected of all festival in Zanzibar, marked with praying, family feast and gift giving. The Zanzibar people commit themselves to the principals of Ramadan and refrain from various activities. Drinking, dancing, smoking and eating are prohibited among Muslims during this period, which lasts a whole cycle of the moon. There fore Eid-el-Fitr is looked forward to by one and all.

The Festival is observed with great enthusiasm and pomp in the island. The Islanders are in a merry – making mood and this is a time for visiting relatives and friends, wearing bright new dresses and preparing traditional Muslim food. Eid-el-fitr celebration last for four days and visitors can attend Eid festivities at Mnazi mmoja grounds across from the National Museum or at the Kariakoo fair grounds, out by the main post office.

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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 fair ground feel to it, with hundreds of people clothed in 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 - up 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 make ready for the New Year.This is imported by furious running battles between group of males, who beat each other with banana stems (in place of the wooden sticks and staves that were traditionally used). In this fighting, every one gets a chance to clear his griences and so clear the air as the new year rolls in. As the men fight, the women parade though 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. The holiday is held every year around the third week of July. The dates are based on the Shiraz calendar and coincide with the Persian New Year, celled Nairuzim.

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