Zanzibar — African City of Culture?
Zanzibar is an insular autonomous region of Tanzania. It is composed of the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, 25–50 kilometres (or 16–31 miles if you like) off the coast of the mainland. The African City has an interesting geography consisting of many small islands — two large ones being Unguja (the main island, referred to informally as Zanzibar) and Pemba Island.
Zanzibar City (or Zanzibar Town, often simply referred to as Zanzibar; Swahili: Jiji la Zanzibar; Arabic: مدينة زنجبار) is the capital and largest city of Zanzibar. It lies on the west coast of Unguja, roughly due north of Dar es Salaam across the Zanzibar Channel. It also serves as the capital of the Zanzibar Urban/West Region, and qualifies as a district, formally known as Zanzibar Urban District. In 2012 its population was 223,033.
Zanzibar City comprises two main parts, Stone Town and Ng’ambo — literally, “The Other Side”. These two areas are historically separaed by a creek, now marked by a large street called Creek Road.
SOME HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Zanzibar has a strong Arab heritage dating back centuries. In 1824 Sultan Saīd ibn, Sulṭān of Oman, established his capital there, shifting it from Muscat (present day capital of Oman) on the “Arabian Peninsula.” During the remainder of the 19th century, the city flourished as the base for Arab and European activities in eastern Africa, becoming infamous for its trade in slaves.
Although its port is still a major exporter of cloves, coconuts, citrus fruits, and other tropical products, it declined in importance as the ports of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa (on the coast of the eastern African mainland) took over much of its trade.
Cities within the City
Also known as Mji Mkongwe (Swahili for ‘old town’), in the old part of Zanzibar City, Stone Town is the main city of Zanzibar. The newer portion of the city is known as Ng’ambo, Swahili for ‘the other side’.
Ng’ambo is a much larger, modern area that developed around Stone Town after the Zanzibar Revolution, with office buildings and large apartment blocks such as those of the “Michenzani” neighbourhood.
Stone Town is the historical core of the city, former capital of the Zanzibar Sultanate; because of its unique architecture and culture, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. It is located on the western coast of “Unguja,” the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago.
Former capital of the Zanzibar Sultanate, and flourishing centre of the spice trade as well as the slave trade in the 19th century, it retained its importance as the main city of Zanzibar during the period of the British protectorate.
When Tanganyika and Zanzibar unified as the United Republic of Tanzania, Zanzibar kept a semi-autonomous status, with Stone Town as its local government seat — and a city of prominent historical and artistic importance in East Africa. Its architecture, mostly dating back to the 19th century, reflects the diverse influences underlying the Swahili culture, giving a unique mixture of Arab, Persian, Indian and European elements. For this reason, the town was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Due to its heritage, Stone Town is also a major visitor attraction in Tanzania, and a large part of its economy depends on tourism-related activities.
Pemba Island (Arabic: الجزيرة الخضراء al-Jazīra al-khadrā, literally “The Green Island”; Swahili: Pemba kisiwa) is a Tanzanian island forming part of the Zanzibar Archipelago, lying within the Swahili Coast in the Indian Ocean.
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“Stone Town of Zanzibar — UNESCO World Heritage Centre”. whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
“Zanzibar says we must not rely on tourism - BBC News”. BBC News. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
“The Palace Museum, Zanzibar - Zanzibar Travel”. www.zanzibartravel.co.za Retrieved 2016-01-04.
Excavations at nearby Pemba Island, but especially at Shanga in the Lamu Archipelago, provide the clearest picture of architectural development. Houses were originally built with timber (c. 1050) and later in mud with coral walls (c. 1150). The houses were continually rebuilt with more permanent materials. By the 13th century, houses were built with stone, and bonded with mud, and the 14th century saw the use of lime to bond stone. Only the wealthier patricians would have had stone and lime built houses, the strength of the materials allowing for flat roofs, while the majority of the population lived in single-story thatched houses similar to those from the 11th and 12th centuries.
According to Tom Middleton and Mark Horton, the architectural style of these stone houses have no Arab or Persian elements, and should be viewed as an entirely indigenous development of local vernacular architecture. While much of Zanzibar Town's architecture was rebuilt during Omani rule, nearby sites elucidate the general development of Swahili, and Zanzibari, architecture before the 15th century.
Stone Town is located along a natural harbour and the first Europeans to set foot on the island of Zanzibar were the Portuguese. The Portuguese ruled the island for over 2 centuries and began constructing Stone Town’s first stone structure, the Old Fort.
However, towards the end of the 17th century the Sultanate of Oman took over the island and completed the fort to prevent future attacks. The first stone houses in Stone Town probably began to be built in the 1830s, gradually replacing an earlier fishing village around the Old Fort. At the time the Sultanate of Oman controlled the Zanzibar Archipelago, Mombasa and the Swahili coast.
So now we know about Stone Town and the Other Side… Zanzibar’s Arab influences and Oman at the heart of it all… next stop?
