Zanzibar's main industries are spices (which include cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper), raffia, and tourism. Zanzibar is also the home of the endemic Zanzibar Red Colobus and the elusive Zanzibar Leopard.
The word "Zanzibar" probably derives from the Persian زنگبار, Zangi-bar ("coast of the blacks"). However, the name could also have been derived from the Arabic Zayn Z'al Barr ("fair is this land"). "Zanzibar" often refers especially to Unguja Island and is sometimes referred to as the "Spice Islands," though this term is more commonly associated with the Maluku Islands in Indonesia. Pemba Island is the only island apart of Zanzibar that still produces cloves on a major basis which is the primary source of spice income for the islands.
The first permanent residents of Zanzibar seem to have been the ancestors of the Hadimu and Tumbatu, who began arriving from the East African mainland around AD 1000. They had belonged to various mainland ethnic groups, and on Zanzibar they lived in small villages and did not coalesce to form larger political units. Because they lacked central organization, they were easily subjugated by outsiders.
Ancient pottery demonstrates existing trade routes with Zanzibar as far back as the ancient Assyrians. Traders from Arabia, the Persian Gulf region of modern-day Iran (especially Shiraz), and west India probably visited Zanzibar as early as the 1st century. They used the monsoon winds to sail across the Indian Ocean and landed at the sheltered harbor located on the site of present-day Zanzibar Town. Although the islands had few resources of interest to the traders, they offered a good point from which to make contact with the towns of the East African coast.
Traders from the Persian Gulf region began to settle in small numbers on Zanzibar in the late 11th or 12th century; they intermarried with the indigenous Africans and eventually a hereditary ruler (known as the Mwenyi Mkuu or Jumbe), emerged among the Hadimu. A similar ruler, called the Sheha, was set up among the Tumbatu. Neither ruler had much power, but they helped solidify the ethnic identity of their respective peoples.
Da Gama's visit in 1499 marks the beginning of European influence. The Portuguese established control over the island in 1503. In August 1505 it became part of the Portuguese Empire when captain John (João) Homere of de Almeida's fleet captured the island and claimed it for Portugal. It was to remain a possession of Portugal until 1698.
In 1698, Zanzibar became part of the overseas holdings of Oman, falling under the control of the Sultan of Oman.
Sayyid Said bin Sultan al-Busaid moved his capital from Muscat in Oman to Stone Town in 1840. After his death in 1856, his sons struggled over the succession. On April 6, 1861, Zanzibar and Oman were divided into two separate principalities. Sayyid Majid bin Said Al-Busaid (1834/5–1870), his sixth son, became the Sultan of Zanzibar, while his brother, the third son Sayyid Thuwaini bin Said al-Said became the Sultan of Oman.
During this period, the Sultan of Zanzibar also controlled a substantial portion of the east African coast, known as Zanj, including Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, and trading routes extended much further into Africa, such as to Kindu on the Congo river. In November 1886, a German-British border commission established the Zanj as a ten-nautical mile (19 km) wide strip along the coast from Cape Delgado (now in Mozambique) to Kipini (now in Kenya) including all offshore islands and several towns in what is now Somalia. However, from 1887 to 1892, all of these mainland possessions were subsequently lost to the colonial powers of Britain, Germany, and Italy although some were not formally sold or ceded until the 20th century (Mogadishu to Italy in 1905 and Mombasa to Kenya in 1963).
Zanzibar carries the distinction of having the first steam locomotive in East Africa, when Sultan Bargash bin Said ordered a tiny 0-4-0 tank engine to haul his regal carriage from town to his summer palace at Chukwani.
The British Empire gradually took over, and Zanzibar and the British position was formalized by the 1890 Helgoland-Zanzibar Treaty, in which Germany pledged not to interfere with British interests in insular Zanzibar. Zanzibar became a protectorate of the United Kingdom that year. The British appointed first Viziers from 1890 to 1913, and then British Residents from 1913 to 1963.
The death of Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini on 25 August 1896, saw the usurper Seyyid Khalid bin Bargash son of Sultan Bargash bin Said take over the palace and declare himself the new ruler. This was contrary to the wishes of the British Government since the rightful ruler should have been Sultan Hamoud bin Mohammed. This led to a showdown on the morning of 27 August when ships of the Royal Navy destroyed the Beit al Hukum palace having given Khalid an ultimatum to leave. He refused and at 9 am the ships opened fire and despite a substantial return fire from Khalid's rebel troops a cease fire was declared 45 minutes later after Khalid had fled to the German Consulate. The bombardment subsequently became known as The Shortest War in History. Sultan Hamoud was declared the new ruler and peace was restored once more[1]. Acquiescing to British demands, Hamoud brought an end to Zanzibar's role as a centre for the eastern slave trade that had begun under Omani rule in 17th Century by banning slavery and freeing the slaves of Zanzibar with compensation in 1897.
On December 10, 1963, Zanzibar received its independence from the United Kingdom as a constitutional monarchy under the Sultan. This state of affairs was short-lived, as the Sultan was overthrown on January 12, 1964, and on April 26 of that year Zanzibar merged with the mainland state of Tanganyika to form Tanzania, a part of which it remains to this day.
This period of transition was not without violence:
On January 12, 1964, a violent revolution ousted the ZNP-led coalition...More than 5,000 Arabs were killed, according to reports, and thousands of others were detained and their property either confiscated or destroyed. Yeager, Rodger (1989). Tanzania: An African Experiment.
The film Africa Addio also documented the massacre of Arabs.
[edit] Political status
The new flag of Zanzibar was hoisted for the first time in January 2005.Although Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, it elects its own president who is head of government for matters internal to the island. Amani Abeid Karume was re-elected to that office on October 30, 2005 under criticism from opposition candidate Seif Shariff Hamad [2]. Earlier, the fairness of his election on October 2000 was queried, and in January 2001 at least 27 protestors were killed by the police. [3]
Zanzibar also has its own House of Representatives (with 50 seats, directly elected by universal suffrage to serve five-year terms) to make laws especially for it.
The Island of Zanzibar comprises three administrative regions: Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar North and Zanzibar Urban/West. On the Island of Pemba are the two regions Pemba North and Pemba South.
[edit] Sultans of Zanzibar Majid bin Said (1856–1870) Barghash bin Said (1870–1888) Khalifah bin Said (1888–1890) Ali bin Said (1890–1893) Hamad bin Thuwaini (1893–1896) Khalid bin Barghash (1896) Hamud bin Muhammed (1896–1902) Ali bin Hamud (1902–1911) (abdicated) Khalifa bin Harub (1911–1960) Abdullah bin Khalifa (1960–1963) Jamshid bin Abdullah (1963–1964)
[edit] Viziers Sir Lloyd William Matthews, (1890 to 1901) A.S. Rogers, (1901 to 1906) Arthur Raikes, (1906 to 1908) Francis Barton, (1906 to 1913)
[edit] British Residents Francis Pearce, (1913 to 1922) John Sinclair, (1922 to 1923) Alfred Hollis, (1923 to 1929) Richard Rankine, (1929 to 1937) John Hall, (1937 to 1940) Henry Pilling, (1940 to 1946) Vincent Glenday, 1946 to 1951) John Sinclair, (1952 to 1954) Henry Potter, (1954 to 1959) Arthur Mooring, (1959 to 1963)
[edit] Culture
Photograph of woman from Zanzibar by Coutinho brothers, c. 1890Zanzibar's history was influenced by the British, Persians, Arabs, Indians, Portuguese and the African mainland. Stone Town is a place of winding lanes, circular towers, carved wooden doors, raised terraces and beautiful mosques. Important architectural features are the Livingstone house, the Guliani Bridge, and the House of Wonders, a palace constructed by Sultan Barghash in 1883. The town of Kidichi features the Hammam Persian Baths, built by immigrants from Shiraz, Iran during the reign of Sultan Barghash bin Said.
[edit] Trade Pemba Island is the leading world clove producer. It also exports spices and fine raffia.
[edit] Miscellaneous Zanzibar was the first region in Africa to introduce colour television, in 1973. The current tv-station is called TvZ. The first television service in mainland Tanzania was not introduced until some twenty years later. Gonzo the Great, the famous Muppet, frequently mentions "going to Zanzibar to fight the Zanzibarbarians!" in more recent appearances, especially Muppet Treasure Island. Zanzibar residents do not normally call themselves "Zanzibarbarians". In the Tenacious D song "Fuck Her Gently", Jack Black says he will order his girlfriend's favorite food from Zanzibar. The musician Farrokh Bulsara (a.k.a Freddie Mercury) of Queen was born in Unguja, Zanzibar on September 5, 1946 to Indian Parsee parents who were employed by the British colonial administration. There is also a restaurant named 'Mercurys' on the beachfront of Stone Town. In September 2006, a radical Islamic group on the archipelago, Uamsho, forced organizers to abandon plans to mark his 60th birthday, saying he violated Islam with his openly gay lifestyle. Zanzibar criminalized gay and lesbian sex in 2004 [4] [5]. In his book titled 'Jigsaw', Derek Townsend claims that, because his views are so well respected, he was one of the first persons to speak in Zanzibar after the 'revolution'.
HOTELS:
Zanzibar Serena Inn
The most luxurious hotel to be found in Stone Town. Owned by Serena Hotels who also offer top class accommodation in mainland Tanzania and Kenya. Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel
A small and exclusive luxury resort situated on Zanzibar's northern tip, where Zanzibar's most remote and beautiful beaches can be found. An ideal place for watersports - or just relaxing.
Hotel International
Ideally situated near to Stone Town's bustling market, Hotel International offers comfortable and spacious accommodation in twenty well-appointed guest-rooms. Dhow Palace Hotel
Based in the Stone Town and furnished with antiques, the Dhow Palace Hotel is a favourite for those wanting to relax after a busy day exploring historic Zanzibar.
Tembo House Hotel
Located on the seafront in Zanzibar's historic Stone Town, this popular tourist hotel has some excellent seaviews, and a central location. Zanzibar Beach Hotel and Resort
Sample all the island has to offer at the well appointed Zanzibar Beach Hotel and Resort -exquisite scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing and island tours to all the renowned sites of Zanzibar.
Chumbe Island Coral Park
Award-winning eco-lodge situated on Chumbe Island, and a great example of sustainable tourism. Some of the world's best snorkeling can be found here Flame Tree Cottages
Situated at the northern tip of Zanzibar Island on the beautiful turquoise coastline of Nungwi, this is a small low-density development of individually designed cottages with spacious rooms.
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