FESTIVITY IN ZANZIBAR

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 158, 1 April 1937, Page 7

FESTIVITY IN ZANZIBAR

New Zealand Woman Abroad And Her Description Of A Gala Week

'THE marvellous week really began ' with Christmas, she writes, but the jubilee celebrations were most impressive. On Sunday, December 27, the weather was beautiful, as it was for the entire week—calm and hot, with the lovely Flamboyant trees a blaze of scarlet in the sunshine, and the white Arab houses and graceful palms set against the very deep turquoise of sea and sky. There was a service of thanksgiving in the packed cathedral. On Monday morning, thousands of Europeans, Indians, Arabs, Swahilis, etc., crowded to the sportsground to see the parade before the Sultan. The police looked very fine, the tall natives in their khaki and red uniform with leather and brass gleaming in the sun, and two of the white officers mounted on bay horses. A tiny battalion of the white children of Zanzibar, girls and boys aged from six years downward, have been taught to salute and are always present at parade. After the inspection by the Sultan a huge baraza was held at the palace, but was not attended by women. We watched the Arabs striding up the drive, a splendid sight in their flowing dress, turbans, swords and jambirs. I heard it was a wonderful sight at the palace, where the Sultan received costly presents and presented his jubilee medals. The women who were to receive medals arrived at 12 o’clock. Drums Beating for the Dance. A ND in the meantime, native dances were going on all day at the sportsground. The incessant beating of the drums went on until midnight. At sundown the little city burst into colour, green lights and red and pink and blue. The Residency was specially IL luminated, and the bulbs threw beautiful lights over its white walls. Inside, it was deeorated with red flowers, an archway at the foot of the stairs, and bowls in all the rooms, for the great reception that was held. On Tuesday there was a State drive through Zanzibar, and the Sultan was greeted tumultuously. The Manga Arabs, who took part in rioting last February, had come from all over the island and swarmed round his Highness’s car, brandishing their two-edged swords in welcome. In the Residency grounds, they did their unique sword dance to the music of big horns. They

JN tropic Zanzibar, Christmas is always a time for picturesque celebrations, but when the Silver Jubilee of the popular Sultan, Sir Khalifa bin Harub, falls at the same time, rejoicing reaches a pitch that would dazzle most New Zealanders. Vivid descriptions of the scenes are contained in a letter from Miss Vida Dalzell, Hamilton, who is visiting hef sister, Lady Rankine, wife of the British Resident at Zanzibar, South Africa.

were a picturesque crowd and it made an awe-inspiring picture. But they had come to honour the Sultan and were quite ruly and well-behaved. Late in the afternoon, a friend and I wandered on to the sportsground to watch the native ngonias, or dances, performed to the beat of tom-toms. The women were dressed in very special kanzas. but the men were mostly wild, with only small frills of skirt and their bare, chocolate bodies glistening

in the heat. One man wore a python round his neck while he danced, and a heavy thing it looked. I asked if it were dead, but just then it suddenly put o_ut a tongue and wriggled. I retreated. and one or two of the natives laughed. More Festivities. r piIAT night the Sultan gave a champagne dinner and a reception. Black coffee and cigarettes were handed round and there seemed to be a lady-in-waiting for the women. Just as I was wondering what to do with my cigarette end she came and took it from me. None of the Arabs could speak a word of English, so I could only smile, and conversation was extremely limited. On Wednesday afternoon there was a parade and display by boy scouts at Ngasi Moga; and iu the evening a fireworks display, followed by another party at the palace. There were hundreds of Arab women present and a few Europeans, who sat on chairs on the veranda and watched the dances. I again found myself between two Arab women who offered me cigarettes and exchanged smiles. The dancers, dressed in black and white, stood on raised boards in the garden. They wore bangles, rings and flowers in their hair, and they clicked together small horns tipped with metal and kept time to the monotonous and very loud beat of drums.

The celebrations ended on Wednesday night, and the next morning the electricians were busy dismantling the Residency, and we felt rather flat However, festivities ended next night, on New Year’s Eve, with the usual party at the club, where everyone went in fa.ncy dress and all were at their merriest. Everyone went home exhausted. but thrilled to have been present during such a wonderful week.