Saba Saba

Today we celebrate national holiday in Tanzania, famously knows as Saba Saba Day (seven seven, as it is celebrated on July 7th every year). When I first came to Tanzania in the beginning of 1991, it was still observed and enforced strongly as a 'Farmers' Day', though the origin of the day is the birth of TANU (Tanganyika African National Union) party on July 7th, 1954.
Back then we had no multiparty democracy in Tanzania. Since the birth of multiparty democracy in early nineties and consequently multiparty elections, the nature of the day has changed as people were pointing out to the biased approach to the holidays, associating it with CCM ruling party which is a fusion of TANU and ASP (Afro-Shirazi Party from Zanzibar) done in 1977.

So now Saba Saba is celebrated as a trade day associated with International Trade Fair organized in Dar es Salaam every year since 1963 in this time with the culmination on July 7th. As I write these words, I watch the President of Brazil speaking at the trade fair with the President of Tanzania, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete having spoken in welcoming speech shortly before. All this to mark the Saba Saba Day. It is a huge event in Dar and major attraction to residents and visitors, every year trade fair growing and incorporating new companies, countries and investors. I was once there in 2007 and was extremely impressed with the magnitude of the event.


The Farmers' Day is now celebrated on Agust 8th, Eight Eight or Nane Nane in swahili. But, I feel, it has no power and relevance as it was before.