Get to know the history of Zanzibar, a “Spice Island”

ZANZIBAR’s colorful history is a saga of ancient travelers and traders as well as colonizers. To its shores during those days, came Sumerians, Egyptians, Assyrians, Phoenicians, Indians, Chinese, Portuguese Arabs and later British, each leaving a legacy behind of their stay. From the Island, the great European explorers such as Burton, Speke, Dr. Livingstone, Stanley set off their voyages of discovery into the vast, uncharted wilderness of the great African hinterland. The Zanzibar town, the once headquarter of the Arab Sultanate government during Arab domination along the Eastern coast of Africa in early 1880s has of late attracted most travelers from around the world who comes to visit bits most attractive tourist centers. Its history dates back to the first century AD Greek’s first mention of the Island was in the Periplus of the Erythrean (Red) sea. The town is situated roughly 40 Kms from the mainland on the west coast, it was the ancient trading port of the Sultans of Oman by then in the 19th century. North of Zanzibar, there is also another Island of Pemba which has been famous for centuries for its clove production.
Bantu tribes from the mainland were the first inhabitants of the island, but by 700 AD the Indian Ocean trade winds had brought Persians and Arabs to its shores. It was the intermarriage of Arabs with the native inhabitants that gave birth to a new people and the Kiswahili (Swahili) language was formed. From its early days as a town full of Swahili traditional culture, has a thriving tourist business of its kind along East African coast. In generations long past, ivory, slaves and spices were transported on large wooden sailing dhows across the Indian Ocean to the Arabian Peninsula and beyond. From the beginning of 16th century, for 200 years, the Portuguese raiders dominated this part of the East African coast. Then in 1652,Zanzibar was invaded by Arabs from Oman signaling the end of Portuguese domination. Sultan Sayyid Said moved his capital from Muscat top Zanzibar in 1840 to exploit the flouring slave trade and the island grew in power, wealth and population. Dr. Livingstone, a famous British explorer who visited the island on his way to the interior protested against this inhumane activities and the treatment of slaves. He created a groundswell of opposition in Britain which led to action by the Royal Navy that culminated into a drastic change of mind. Under pressure the Sultan outlawed the export of slaves in 1873. Zanzibar became a British protectorate in 1890 and in 1913 power was transferred to the British. Independence was achieved under Sultan Jamshid bin Abdulla in December 1963, but the sultanate was toppled from power in favour of people’s Republic a month later. On April 26th 1964 the Republic joined Tanganyika to become the United Republic of Tanzania. Just the name, Zanzibar evokes dreams of romance and mystery and the reality will not disappoint the traveler bored with mass tourism and seeking an enlightening and enjoyable holiday experience. Zanzibar, the name includes the main island, Unguja, Pemba has for centuries attracted seafarers and adventurers from around the world. Now it becomes a new generation of explorers those who have comer to marvel at the rich heritage, reflected in the architecture and the culture of the people. For this is where Arabia meets Africa.

Can it be true that Zanzibar is even more magical than its name suggest? Visit Zanzibar’s historic s-Stone Town, where the sultans once ruled. Every corner you turn offers a new exotic scent, curry and cardamom from the kitchens, sandalwood from the ladies covered in black robes. If you turn to another corner and you are back in a scorching sun, old men gather, donning embroidered caps round to fit their heads but angled sharply to be perfectly flat on top. Their houses with heavy wooden doors and their frames are carved as intricately as the caps are embroidered. Pick around another corner and six small boys are caroming a football off narrow walls and if you happen to stroll along the beaches, relax on one of 25 dazzling white palm-fringed beaches where the waters of the Indian Ocean beckon swimmers, divers, fishermen and water ports enthusiasts alike. Brilliant white beaches lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean provide the perfect place to relax, soak up the sun and take a break from some busy sightseeing. Modern resorts nestle in the shade of coconut palms, providing cool and comfortable retreats. The beaches in Zanzibar are a paradise, here are picturesque fishing villages where the people live a simple way of life, unchanged through the years. Just south of Zanzibar town are Fuji Beach and Chuini Beach which both offer facilities for a range of water sports. While to the North there is Mangapwani where there is only noise and sound of the ocean, and on the tip end of the island there is Nungwi beach where visitors can watch fishermen’s boats being built there or swim in the coral lagoons. Breathe in the fragrant scents of cloves, vanilla, cardamom and nutmeg, and discover why Zanzibar is called “The Spice Island” Explore the forests with their rare flora and fauna. Or visit some of the ancient, archeological sites.
Although spices remains a major export commodity of the Isles government these days, Zanzibar’s main attraction is the beauty of the land itself. Zanzibar may not have particularly romantic name.

But Stone Town, is the old city and cultural heart of it, little changed in the last 200 years. It is a place of winding alleys, bustling bazaars, mosques and grand Arab houses whose extravagance is reflected in their brass-studded, carved wooden doors.
The National Museum is a good starting point for finding out more of the history and culture of Zanzibar. It opened in 1925 and contains relics from the time of Sultans and early explorers, as well as traditional carvings and exhibits of local wildlife, including a good collection of birds and reptiles. Tours in Zanzibar island are a traveling experience . Visitors travel past fragrant plantations of cloves cinnamon, nutmeg and other spices on their way to a number of places of historical interest. In the South of the island is the walled city of Kizimkazi, where the ruin of Shiraz mosque, part of which dates back nearly 900 years are found. A coral stone inscription provides evidences of its age, making this one of the earliest Islamic buildings in this part of Africa.
Head north from Zanzibar town and visitors encounters the palace ruin of Maruhubi and Mtoni. The ruin of Maruhubi offers a tantalizing glimpse of the former grandeur of this palace. Built by Sultan Barghash in 1880 to house his harem, but burned down in 1889. These are few example of historical ruins that are dotted throughout the island. Others are to be found in Chuini, Dunga, Kidichi, Kizimbani and Bungi. Apart from old buildings, the enchanting architecture and the mind-boggling heterogeneity, ordinary Zanzibar’s epitomizing an ancient culture. The town has old buildings with history, the Zanzibar culture centre, Heritage society, Palace museum, the house of wonders and old fort. In Zanzibar, there us a ruin of a great slave market as well as the main market of stone town in Darajani area built in 1904. The areas are a great place to visit even if one does not want to buy a thing. It is here whereby you can also get to see the impressive Anglican church, the first ever build in the Isles. The presence of this church reflects the Island’s multi-religious character though almost 95 percent of the Islanders are Muslims.