A four-day-long celebration, Mwaka Kogwa is best observed at Makunduchi, a village in the southern part of Zanzibar.
The origins of this holiday are Zoroastrian (a Persian religion older than Islam). It is a celebration of the New Year and some of the events include huge bonfires 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, in which everyone gets a chance, 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 are taunted by the men ā and hurl good-natured insults in return ā 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 this festival which takes place at the end of July
There might be a small (5ooo THS) fee collected on the road from Jambiani to Makunduchi.
