Zanzibar is located about 40 kilometres (25 miles) off the coast of East Africa, in the Indian Ocean, approximately five degrees south of the Equator. The population of Zanzibar is about 800,000 people, of which 150,000 are found on Pemba. The majority of people inhabit the capital, Stone Town. Many of the rural people prefer the fertile Northern section of the island, whilst the East Coast offers the most spectacular beaches and holiday destinations.
People
The people are diverse and interesting. One of the Island’s most remarkable features is the friendliness and hospitality shown by many of the locals. The majority of the people are of Bantu origin with some Arab strains. They are not as tribal as in Kenya or South Africa. This is due to a policy introduced by the Tanzanian Government in the late 1960's whereby tribes were either relocated or broken up. The intention of the government was to prevent tribal warfare. Whilst this policy is today the main contributor of the prevailing peace within the country, it did lead to a disruption and lack of skills on Zanzibar, causing the current poverty.
Religion
Religion forms a major part of the Zanzibari culture. If you are staying in Stone Town you will hear the calls for prayer from the local mosque. The most common religion followed is Muslim. The remaining mix is a combination of Hindu and Christian. A large Hindu population used to exist on the island, but many of them fled the country, or were killed during the revolution in 1963. The Christians came later during the period of Portuguese rule and British Colonialism.
History
Zanzibar has lured traders, adventurers and explorers to its shores for centuries. The Assyrians, Sumerians, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Indians, Chinese, Persians, Portuguese, Omani Arabs, Dutch and English have all been here at one time or another. Some, particularly the Shirazi Persians and Omani Arabs, stayed to settle and rule. The earliest visitors to Zanzibar were Arab traders who are said to have arrived in the 8th century. Ancient visitors to the island came to trade gold, silks, ivory, spices, animal skins and, most notoriously, slaves. But many stayed, intermarrying with the locals to form a culture that's uniquely diverse, and producing a race of people who regard hospitality to strangers as a sacred duty.
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