Zanzibar - Spices, Ghosts and Associates (38/59)

Zanzibar - Spices, Ghosts and Associates (38/59)

Zanzibar means "Island of the black". For centuries, the island group around the main islands Unguja and Pemba which is surrounded by coral reefs was one of the most important slave markets in the world. The major part of the current population is made up by descendants of former slaves from Africa. Although 97 per cent of the inhabitants are Muslims, there are still relics of the original nature religions to be found today. At least from the 19th century on Sansibar was considered as the most important producer of cloves. The islands were highly coveted - at first by the Arabians, then the Portuguese, Germans and Britain. Their bequests are still visible today, for example those of the Sultanate of Oman which transferred its seat of government from Muscat to Sansibar due to the importance of the spice and slave dealing for its national budget. By the end of the 19th century, Zanzibar became a British protectorate. This was also the time in which the story of Emily Ruete alias Salme, princess of Oman and Sansibar took place - she is considered as the most famous former inhabitant of Sansibar.  The palace from which the princess escaped in order to marry a German merchant in Hamburg, is a tourist magnet which is currently being renovated. In 1963 finally, after Zanzibar was freed from the British colonial administration, it became part of the territory of Tanzania.

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