Enticing music, awe-inspiring art, and delicious culinary creations are just a few of the attractions that will be in abundance at this year’s Kizimkazi Culture Music Festival to be held from Dec. 26 through Dec. 31st at Promised Land Beach Resort in the southern region of Zanzibar known as Kizimkazi. Kizimkazi is a small fishing village located approximately one hour and thirty minutes south of Stone Town. This village has seen many travelers from the more popular areas of Zanzibar for the sole purpose of dolphin tours.
However, most travelers stay only for the duration of the swim with the dolphins and do not stay longer to enjoy the various eco-cultural attractions that Kizimkazi has to offer. Tours to the small cluster of islands which house mangroves and Colobus monkeys, tours around the village to interact with the local culture to try coil rope making, or charcoal making, tours through the caves, to Jozani National Forest, or around the historical ruins of the first mosque in Zanzibar, the list of possibilities in Kizimkazi is endless!
Similar to Jozani’s +40 species which exist only in this area, the local culture is also rich with uniqueness.
Traditional taarab, kidumbaki, and ngoma fill the air with a textured sound, luring one by the ear to follow the music which has been passed down through generations and improvised on homemade instruments. Traditional dances inspired by the traditional music are surely a source of sensual pleasure to be felt by both dancers and witnesses as the earth vibrates under the fast moving feet, pounding the rhythm.
Rich tapestries of color hang from the crowded stalls of artists’ workshops, packed also with unique carvings, beautiful batik, and individually designed jewelry. Spices from around the world and spices made locally are combined to make delicious dishes found only in Zanzibar- the night air fills with the smoke from the fire and the gentle breeze wafts the most amazing scents sure to entice the palate.
Well, how can one satisfy this appetite for culture? Join us at the Kizimkazi Culture Music Festival to take part in what the village of Kizimkazi has to offer.
Artists from Zanzibar, Arusha, Bagamoyo, Kenya and Uganda will all be performing to entertain and educate locals and travelers on the unique styles of music. Artists such as Bi Kidude, Makame Faki, and DJ Yusuf and the Roots in Rhythm Sound System will be performing on the same stage as Mwela Band, Safar Band from the Dhow Countries Music Academy, and Lelelele Africa from Mombasa.
Other performance artists include, Jambo Bros. Acrobatics troupe, Twetulobo Band, Makombora Black Roots Cultural Group, Reggae Artists and a multitude of others too numerous to list! As your ears are perked, keep your eyes peeled as well to look at all the handicrafts, paintings, design work, henna art, wood carvings, clothing, jewelry, and other types of artwork that will be set up by local artists from the Kizimkazi area as well as artists from Bagamoyo, Arusha, Dar Es Salaam, and Stone Town.
During the day there will also be children’s activities such as dance instruction, instrumentation usage and other types of musical and performance education. Use your taste buds and feast upon the delectable delicacies offered from the different food stalls, all homemade traditional recipes to satisfy anyone’s tastes, made from spices grown and produced in the area!
This unique cultural enhancement event is expected to become an annual event and will take place from 12:00 in the afternoon on Dec. 26th until the New Year’s Eve!
Hakuna Kulala!!
Tickets for residents cost 4,000/tsh,
non-residents, 6,000/tsh for presale.
At the gate, tickets for residents cost 5,000/tsh and for non-residents, 7,000/tsh. Children’s tickets will cost 2,000/tsh. Transportation will be running from Stone Town and the surrounding villages every three hours.
For questions concerning tickets, accommodation or anything else you would like to know about the festival, please contact:
The Manager at +255 773 895 590,
the Coordinator at +255 173 198 351 or +255 783 576 036.
Please join us for an amazing cultural experience and be entertained by the uniqueness of Kizimkazi, the performances of top artists from East Africa, and the sights, smells and sounds of culture!
Rachel Dove
tHIS TELLS YOU HOW STUPID WE ARE. LOOK AT THESE GUYS THE WAY THE DRESS UP AND FELLOW AFRICAN HOW DO THEY TUNE THEIR CLOTHES.
ReplyDeleteANYWAY KILA MTU ANAISHI KIVYAKE VYAKE. JUST BE SIMPLE AND YOU MAY BE MORE SMART THAN WE WANTS TO BE. POOR AFRICANS.