Zanzibar History And Politics

Zanzibar has a past fraught with conflict and upheaval. By 1045, nearly all of Zanzibar’s native population had converted to Islam after Arabs first arrived there in the 9th century. By 1700, the Omani Arabs had recovered power after 200 years of Portuguese rule and were exploiting the slave trade among the clove farms. With the British leading the elimination of the slave trade, this practice was prohibited in Zanzibar in 1873.

Zanzibar became a British protectorate in 1890, notwithstanding German administration on the neighboring mainland of Tanganyika. After 70 years of relative calm between the two wars, the British finally relinquished control of Zanzibar in 1963. After Tanganyika achieved its own independence in 1961, the two countries united in 1964 to form the current nation of Tanzania. As a semi-autonomous province of Tanzania, Zanzibar has its own Government of National Unity known as the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar. While Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and Civic United Front (CUF) are not the only two political parties operating in Zanzibar, they have held sway over the island nation since the early 1990s.

The House of Representatives is the legislative body of Zanzibar. It has 81 members, 50 of whom are elected at large every five years. The remaining 31 members are ‘selected’ by what may be considered a less democratic process: 10 are appointed directly by The President of Zanzibar, 15 are reserved for women from parties with existing representation in Parliament, and 6 are allocated to representatives from certain regions. Then, from among these 81, 5 are chosen to represent Zanzibar in Tanzania’s National Assembly.

The latest election on 25th October 2015 was nullified by the Chairman of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission, calling into doubt the level of democracy in operation on the island. The election’s invalidation caused the United Kingdom to release the following statement on October 29: “we call upon all political actors to seek a solution which respects the will of the Zanzibari people as expressed on the polls on October 25.” The heated power battle that has developed between the CCM party and the CUF party over the past 20 years appears to be far from being settled.

Zanzibar People & Culture

Arab people have had a profound impact on Zanzibari culture, which offers visitors with numerous unforgettable experiences. The name Zanzibar comes from the Persian or Arabic word zangh bar, which means “the Negro Coast,” and dates back to the 9th century, when invading Arabs from the north settled on the islands. These Arab conquerors blended in with the natives of these islands, bringing with them a robust Arab culture that is still evident today.

Zanzibar’s distinct cultural character is exemplified by the old “Stone Town” district of the city. This area has been preserved as a virtual “time capsule” of Arab culture. The fact that Norman Bennett titled his book about Zanzibar “The History of the Arab State of Zanzibar” is another evidence of the strength of this Arab culture. Stone Town is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity since it is so rich in Arabian culture.

One of the most powerful examples of a country’s culture that a visitor can experience is the winding alleyways of historic Arabian buildings, the local Arab people, their individual customs of dress, bazaars, markets, and religious practices, all set among a wide range of miscellaneous Arabian art. In addition, the traditional cuisine of the area is infused with unique spices (one of Zanzibar’s primary exports), thus a trip to Zanzibar is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on any foodie.