Prior to this journey I knew 3 things about Zanzibar:
1- Vasca Da Gama was commissioned by the king of Portugal, to reach India by sea. He sailed around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope and discovered Zanzibar in 1498.
2-It was the setting of the 1941 musical comedy “Road to Zanzibar” starring Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour
3- It is the birthplace of FreddyMercury of Queen fame
There is so much more – I also was surprised to learn that Zanzibar is actually an archipelago of islands in the Indian Ocean. It is located 13.7 – 31,0 miles off the coast of mainland Tanzania. It consists of two main islands— Unguja (the main island, also often referred to as Zanzibar) and Pemba along with a number of smaller surrounding islands:
Zanzibar’s history had a key role as an Indian trading hub particularly for spices. It has been shaped by many cultural influences including African, Persian, Arab and European. It is ignominious for being the site of heinous slavery and ivory trade. Here is a brief accounting:
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- Early History: Settled by Bantu ( People’s who originated around modern-day Nigeria and Cameroon) followed by Persian influence (10th century), creating the Swahili culture.
- Portuguese Rule (16th-17th Century): The Portuguese controlled the island for nearly 200 years after Vasco da Gama’s visit in 1498.
- Omani Sultanate (1698-1890):
Omani Arabs drove out the Portuguese, establishing a, slave-labor-driven economy for cloves and ivory
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British Protectorate (1890-1963): Zanzibar became a British protectorate, and slavery was officially abolished in 1897, though it persisted for years.
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Independence and Revolution (1963-1964): Gained independence from Britain in December 1963. In January 1964, a violent revolution overthrew the Sultanate.
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Union with Tanzania (1964-Present): In April 1964, Zanzibar merged with Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania, with Zanzibar remaining a semi-autonomous region.
Today Zanzibar is known for its white sand beaches with crystal clear waters perfect for snorkeling/diving views of marine life. It is also known as the “Spice Island” with many local farms open to visitors:
Of course for me the highlight was The Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, home to the endemic and rare red colobus monkeys. I have come a long way in facing my life-long fear of monkeys (another story) and these small creatures were simply endearing – as you will see in next week’s post
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