Zanzibar History

Zanzibar is a Island sub-state which is found in Tanzania, there are two main Islands and several small ones which make up Zanzibar Archepelegio. The biggest islands are Unguja Island which is popularly referred to as Zanzibar and another Island is Pemba.

Zanzibar has a length of 96km long and an area of about 3,350sqkm, the Island is separated by the channel of 35km wide. Zanzibar has typical coastal climate, warm to hot all year round, it receives more rainfall from March to May, and it is windier than the mainland. These favourable conditions have had a profound effect on the history of Zanzibar.

The origin of the name Zanzibar is disputed, the Oman Arabs believe that it came from Zayn Zal Barr, which means 'Fair is the Island'. The second origin is in two parts, the early individuals of the Island were from the Mainland, and were given the name Zinj, also it come from Persian word that is subversion of Zangh which means 'Negro' and the word bar which means coast was added to give 'Negro coast'.

The first recorded visitors were Arab traders who came from Muscat and Oman, they sailed with monsoon to Zanzibar in order to trading ivory, slaves, spices, hides and wrought-iron. These Arabs believed to have arrived in 18th century, when they were in Zanzibar they spread Islamic religion and other Arabic culture . Thus the Islamic religion is the dominant religion in Zanzibar and the earliest building that remains in Zanzibar is the mosque at Kazimkazi that dates from about 1100.

In 1840, Sultan Said of Oman moved his capital to Zanzibar from Muscat many of Arabs settled in Zanzibar were rulers and landowners, while Indian settlers formed merchant class. In 19th century after Britain had the interest to Zanzibar, they sent the explorers such as Livingstone, Speke and Burton to Africa. In 1890 Zanzibar became the British territory.

In 1873 the slave trade was classified as the illegal business, the slave market in Zanzibar was closed and the Protestant cathedral erected on the site, but the institution of slavery was still open. Up to 1918 when British took over mainland from Germans. During British administration many former slaves found that their condition had changed and some of them were employed with low wages. Zanzibar continued to promote with expansion of trade in cloves and other spices.

The social services such as hospitals, were very poor for African people, prority and quality in all things was based on race. School for children began at six and continued to above 12years, normally all children of the house hold were taught private by the female teacher in the room. There were few schools for the children of poorer parents. The only book would be the Koran. Girls would be first taught Arabic alphabets and then reading from sections of the Koran, except in few case only boys learnt to write; whilst girls learned sewing, embroidery lace-making and other domestic activities from their mothers.

The marriage were restricted, that the girl was not allowed to meet with their expected husband, the girl was required to agree to the match, although occasionally the match went against her wishes. The bride to be was required to spend eight day in the darkened room, the wedding ceremony took place in bride's house, the bride would not present ,but would be represented by a male relative.

In 1963 Zanzibar gained her independence from British, under Afro Shiraz party[ASP] which governed by Abedi Amani Karume,and in 1964 the sultan was overthrown in the revolution later on after revolution Zanzibar combined by Tanganyika[mainland] to form Tanzania.

Please visit Wild Things if you are interested in visiting Zanzibar.

Frederick Mlaponi is a Tanzanian Student researcher on work experience with Wild Things Safaris in Tanzania http://www.wildthingsafaris.com.