Stone Town
Zanzibar is probably one of the most unique places that I have traveled too. Molded by so many different areas of the world (Arabia, India, Europe, and Africa), Zanzibar is a distinct Swahili culture of its own. Beginning with influence from the Arab Peninsula, Zanzibar is predominantly (if not close-to-entirely) Muslim. Within the small area of the major town called Stone Town, there are 60 mosques. Near my house (and well within earshot) there are five mosques. Especially during the holy month of fasting (Ramadhan), it has been a challenge sometimes to sleep at night because the mosques seem to battle one another with sounding their prayers and sermons over the minarets (the tower of a mosque with speakers that broadcasts the daily prayers). Prayers are generally said five times a day, but I’ve heard with Ramadhan they are said more frequently. One night, there was some sort of prayer said every 15 mins from 2am until 5:30am. To hear the chants from at least 3 mosques from my bedroom window, watch the video below. Also, most of the women (if not all, except tourists) cover their heads and where the buibui (black overdress/veil) while out in public or in the presence of a man. There will be a video about this to come, whenever my computer decides to finally let me upload it online.
Continuing on with the influence of Arabia and India, the major town, called Stone Town, contains very unique architecture that is blended from these two areas of the world. Zanzibar was a major port island for the Indian Ocean trade routes and so it is not surprising that its many visitors would share their culture with the island. Stone Town itself is small. I have walked the circumference several times in less than 2 hours. It is surrounded by several main and drivable roads. Inside the town, however, the labyrinth begins with only bikes and motor cars able to fit down these winding channels. It was intimidating at first to maneuver through the small alleyways past houses, mosques, and shops. Now, I have realized that no matter where I turn I will end up eventually on one of the major two roads that wrap around this maze. I still don’t claim familiarity with the area, but at least I am able to walk directly through and come out in the direction I initially intended.
My Zanzibari houseI am living in a home-stay guest house right past the outskirts of Stone Town in the ‘burb’ of Kikwajuni. Outside of the major area of Stone Town is where most of the population lives on Zanzibar in less glamorous housing—some areas resembling shanty towns.
From the western world, technology and tourism have definitely made their mark in Zanzibar. At first I felt out of place being the one of the minutely few women showing my arms and ankles in public, but then I walked on the main roads leading to the ferry port (a place I call “tourist alley”). I couldn’t go more than a minute without seeing another western or asian tourist. It was weird to think that I actually blend in here, but as a tourist, because of the color of my skin. We joke at my homestay with the other Indian-American Rotary student and Sudanese student that I should be the least Mzungu (white person) of the group because I can speak Swahili the best because I have studied it before, but yet they don’t get talked to on the street at all because they blend in with the rest of the population, while I always get asked if I want a tourist deal even though I am a student like the other two. Oh well, at least it gives me chance to practice my Swahili.
