ZANZIBAR: THE annual Mwaka Kogwa Festival has been hailed as a key platform for preserving Zanzibar’s cultural heritage while boosting tourism and strengthening ties between Zanzibar and Mainland Tanzania.
Minister for Information, Arts, Culture and Sports, Riziki Pembe Juma, said the festival plays a vital role in safeguarding traditions of Makunduchi for future generations and promoting Zanzibar’s rich cultural identity.
Speaking during a four-day celebration in Makunduchi, Unguja South District, Juma urged residents to keep on welcoming visitors, noting that the festival has become an important attraction for cultural tourism.
“Preserving the customs and traditions of Mwaka Kogwa is essential for protecting our cultural heritage while showcasing Zanzibar to the world,” she said.
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Mwaka Kogwa Organising Committee Chairman, Mzee Mwita Masemo, said this year’s festival marked a milestone by hosting traditional chiefs from Mainland Tanzania for the first time.
He said their participation strengthen cultural exchange and reinforce the historic bond between Zanzibar and The Mainland.
Representing the visiting chiefs, Antonio Sangarali from Simiyu region said the visit had deepened her understanding of the festival and pledged to champion the preservation of traditional cultural practices across Tanzania.
Held annually in Makunduchi, the Mwaka Kogwa Festival is one of Zanzibar’s oldest cultural celebrations, attracting thousands of local and international visitors each year.