Saba Saba
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Tanzanians get a day off work for Saba Saba Day every 7 July. “Saba Saba” means “seven seven” in Swahili and refers to the holiday occurring on the seventh day of the seventh month. Saba Saba is also referred to as Workers’ Day. In 2026, Saba Saba falls on Tuesday 7 July. The holiday will be on Wednesday 7 July in 2027. The reason for the date of Saba Saba is that that’s when the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) party was founded in 1954, which was the party that led the way toward independence from British rule ten years later. TANU continued to rule Tanzania until 1977, when a different political party finally won. The main event on Saba Saba is the Dar es Salaam International trade fair. The fair is meant to promote the export of Tanzanian goods, and thus, international trade with the rest of the world. First held in 1963, the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair is now gigantic. There are usually around 1,500 or more exhibits from 15 to 20 countries, huge crowds hailing from numerous different nations, and an abundance of peripheral food and entertainment related activities. The fair is put on by the Board of External Trade and is supported by a large number of government and private organisations.
History
“Saba Saba” means “seven seven” in Swahili and refers to the holiday occurring on the seventh day of the seventh month. The reason for the date of Saba Saba is that that’s when the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) party was founded in 1954, which was the party that led the way toward independence from British rule ten years later. The main event on Saba Saba is the Dar es Salaam International trade fair. First held in 1963, the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair is now gigantic
How It's Celebrated
“Saba Saba” means “seven seven” in Swahili and refers to the holiday occurring on the seventh day of the seventh month. The holiday will be on Wednesday 7 July in 2027. The reason for the date of Saba Saba is that that’s when the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) party was founded in 1954, wh