Joanna James
The Zanzibar life is not all about the brilliant sunshine, warm powdery sands and the incredible tropical weather. There is more to it. Its festivals are something you need to witness when in these regions. Here are the incredible festivals you can be a part of.
If you are looking for a festival full of crowds and festive vibes, then the Sauti za Busara is the one you should attend. This festival emanates the culture of Zanzibar very well, in its incredible garbs. This is basically a musical festival, that brings all kinds of musicians and music together creating an enchanting experience. Be it jazz, Afro-pop, or even the taarab, you can hear it all. If you love your music, in all its diversity, then attain the Sauti za Busara. This is a 3-day celebration, where plenty of events take place which showcases the Zanzibar's culture, both its people and land. This festival takes place in February.
Another well-known festival that you can attend and be a part of is the Zanzibar International Film Festival. You hear the words 'Film' and 'Festival", and you pretty much know what to expect. This festival features all the different kinds of movies, be it full feature movies, short films and documentaries. Besides, movies from other nations including places like Iran, India and Madagascar are all acknowledged in this platform. On top of that, there is an awards ceremony too, and the festival lasts for about a fortnight. But it isn't just about movies though, there are workshops, performances and master classes too. This festival takes place in the month of July.
Love jazz? Blues? Ohh well then, Zanzibar has something truly amazing to entice you to come to her shows. The Jahazi Literary & Jazz Festival showcases jazz, writing, poems and the blues. This event takes place in many venues, so check out a place that is quite close to you. Besides, if you're looking for the best resorts in Zanzibar to book for accommodation, you can start checking out properties like The Residence Zanzibar, for instance. Also, you should know that the Jahazi Literary & Jazz Festival features some of the world famous names in African literature too. This event generally takes place on the last week of August or the first week of September.
How about some water sports festival? These are quite rare, and when in Zanzibar you can actually be a part of one. Zanzibar is popular around the world for its pristine beaches, why wouldn't they make it a place of a water sports festival? They even feature some sports like football, rugby, volleyball and even yoga.
Mkawa Kogwa celebrates the New Year in a whole new light that you might not have heard of. With mock fights and bonfires, in order to cleanse you from sadness from the past year. It does this by helping people let go of any anger and aggression. The festival happens in the south of Zanzibar and lasts for about four days. It usually takes place in the last weeks of July.
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