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The name Zanzibar is derived from a combination of two Arabic words,
'Zinj', meaning black, and 'barr', being the
Arabic word for land, resulting in the ancient title 'Land of
the Blacks'. As Zanzibar absorbed peoples from as far as The
Orient and Iberia, Assyria and India, so the tapestry of Zanzibar
cultures became more diverse in its range, more unique in its
expression. Zanzibar is
the birthplace of Swahili, a lingua franca forged from global
dialects, upon which legends were carried, trade routes opened and a
Sultan’s empire prospered.
Zanzibar has a rich history with many invasions through the centuries. In the middle
of the 19th century under the Omani Arabs the Island was the most
important trading port on the East Coast of Africa.
The
strident laments and exultant overtures of Swahili taarab were born,
their rhythms and melodies carried and honed between Zanzibar and
the Arabian Gulf until they became the sounds of the islands’ own
musical narrative.
The
architectural styles of Stone Town were borne of the social
convergence, while the tangled mass of stories, woven from centuries
of lives lived, bestow a folklore and legacy that permeate life on
the archipelago.
The stone town of Zanzibar is a fascinating warren of narrow
streets, overhanging balconies and huge intricately carved doors. The
bustling Suk (bazaar) where traders frantically bargain, is full of
the pungent perfume of exotic spices.
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Zanzibar
