Stone Town
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
---|---|
Location | Zanzibar City, Tanzania |
Criteria | Cultural: ii, iii, vi |
Reference | 173 |
Inscription | 2000 (24th Session) |
Area | 96 ha |
Buffer zone | 84.79 ha |
Coordinates | 6°09′45″S 39°11′29″E / 6.1624°S 39.1913°E |
Stonetown of Zanzibar (
Stone Town is a city of prominent historical and artistic importance in
Due to its heritage, Stone Town is also a major
Overview
The heart of Stone Town mostly consists of a maze of narrow alleys lined by houses, shops,
Stone Town's architecture has a number of distinctive features, as a result of Arab, Persian, Indian, European, and African traditions mixing together. The name "Stone Town" comes from the ubiquitous use of
Stone Town is punctuated with major historical buildings, several of which are found on the seafront; these include former palaces of the sultans, fortifications, churches, mosques, and other institutional buildings.
While Stone Town was included in UNESCO's World Heritage Sites in 2000, this designation does not provide complete protection for the town's heritage. Despite the establishment of a Conservation Authority,[5] about 80% of the 1,709 buildings of Stone Town are in a deteriorating condition.[7] As coral stone is very friable, frequent maintenance is needed for most of these buildings. Some major restoration projects (especially on the seafront) have been done in recent times by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).
History
Sultanate of Oman 1698–18561964–present
Sultanate of Zanzibar 1856–1890
British Empire 1890–1963
Republic of Zanzibar 1964
Tanzania
Medieval Zanzibar
A Greco-Roman text between the 1st and 3rd centuries, the
Shangani, the original fishing town that developed into Stone Town, was a small, largely unimportant Swahili site founded in the 11th century. Bigger towns at Unguja Ukuu, Kizimkazi, and Tumbatu were the island's powers from the 8th to the 16th century. The Portuguese built a church at Shangani in the early 16th century, and the Queen of northern Unguja had a house built there in the mid-17th century. When the Portuguese were ousted by Zanzibaris and Pembans in the 17th century, local patricians invited the Sultan of Oman to wield political power in exchange for defense against Portuguese reprisals. Part of the Portuguese church was built into the Omani fort, which housed roughly fifty soldiers. The Sultan also appointed a local governor, but political authority was still largely vested in the Mwinyi Mkuu, at this time Queen Fatima.[10]
Excavations at nearby Pemba Island, but especially at Shanga in the Lamu Archipelago, provide the clearest picture of architectural development. Houses were originally built with timber (c. 1050) and later in mud with coral walls (c. 1150). The houses were continually rebuilt with more permanent materials. By the 13th century, houses were built with stone, and bonded with mud, and the 14th century saw the use of lime to bond stone. Only the wealthier patricians would have had stone and lime built houses, the strength of the materials allowing for flat roofs, while the majority of the population lived in single-story thatched houses similar to those from the 11th and 12th centuries. According to Tom Middleton and Mark Horton, the architectural style of these stone houses have no Arab or Persian elements, and should be viewed as an entirely indigenous development of local vernacular architecture. While much of Zanzibar Town's architecture was rebuilt during Omani rule, nearby sites elucidate the general development of Swahili, and Zanzibari, architecture before the 15th century.[11]
Omani Dominion
Stone Town is located along a natural harbour and the first Europeans to set foot on the island of
.In 1824,
In the 19th century Stone Town flourished as a trading centre. It was especially renowned for the commerce of
Colonial control
In the last decades of the century, the
During the period of British protection, the Sultan still retained some power and Stone Town remained a relatively important trading centre for the informal trade. Though the town previously had a small railway the British constructed a railway from the Town to Bububu village. The British did not fund major developments in the town and allowed the sultan to manage the islands affairs from Stone Town.[18] The British gave privileges to Mombasa and Dar es Salaam as their trading stations in East Africa.
Zanzibar Revolution
In 1964, Stone Town was the theatre of the Zanzibar Revolution, which brought about the removal of the sultan and the birth of a socialist government led by the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP). More than 20,000 people were killed and refugees, especially Arabs and Indians, escaped the island as a consequence of the revolution.[19] The Arabs and Indians left behind everything they had and the ASP quickly occupied old homes and converted them into public buildings. In 1964, when Tanganyika and Zanzibar combined to form Tanzania, Stone Town kept its role as a capital and government seat for Zanzibar, which was declared a semi-autonomous part of the new nation.
Geography
Stone Town is located roughly in the middle of the west coast of Unguja, on a small promontory protruding into the Zanzibar Channel. The closest major settlement on the Tanzanian coast, opposite Stone Town, is Bagamoyo (to the south-west).[20] Stone Town is part of Zanzibar City, which also includes the 'New City' of Ng'ambo ("the Other Side"), which mostly extends in the interior of Unguja to the south-east. The dividing line between Stone Town and Ng'ambo is Creek Road, later renamed to Benjamin Mkapa Road, marking the west side of the now reclaimed creek that separated them.[21]
Demographics
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1870 Est. | 10,000 | — |
1948 | 16,698 | +67.0% |
1958 | 18,179 | +8.9% |
1978 | 15,493 | −14.8% |
1988 | 15,854 | +2.3% |
2008 | 15,000 | −5.4% |
2016 Est. | 16,000 | +6.7% |
Landmarks
Historical buildings and sites
- The House of Wonders (or "Palace of Wonders", also known as "Beit-al-Ajaib"), in located on the Mizingani Road along the Stone Town seafront, and is probably the most well-known landmarks of Stone Town. It was built in 1883 and restored after the Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896. Formerly the Sultan's residence, it became the seat of the Afro-Shirazi Party after the revolution. It was the first building in Zanzibar to have electricity as well as the first building in East Africa to have a lift. Since 2000, its interior has been dedicated to a museum on Swahili and Zanzibar culture.[22] In December 2020, during renovations, a large part of the building collapsed in a major accident.[23]
- The Old Fort ("Ngome Kongwe" in Swahili), adjacent to the House of Wonders, is a heavy stone fortress that was built in the 17th century by the Omanis. Also known as the Omani fort it was built by the early rulers to protect the city from European invasions. It has a roughly square shape and the internal courtyard is now a cultural centre with shops, workshops, and a small arena where live dance and music shows are held daily.[13] The fort location is also used for the Zanzibar International Film Festival.[24]
- The Old Dispensary (or "Ithnashiri Dispensary")[13] was built from 1887 to 1894 by a wealthy Indian trader, to serve as a charity hospital for the poor but was later used as a dispensary. It is one of the most finely decorated buildings of Stone Town, with large carved wooden balconies, stained-glass windows, and neo-classical stucco adornments. After falling into decay in the 1970s and 1980s, the building was accurately restored by the AKTC.[25]
- The Palace Museum (also known as the "Sultan's Palace", "Beit el-Sahel" in Arab) is another former sultan's palace, on the seafront, to the north of the House of Wonders.[26] It was built in late 19th century and now hosts a museum about the daily life of the Zanzibari royal family, including items that belonged to Sayyida Salme, a former Zanzibar princess who fled to relocate in Europe with her husband.
- The Anglican cathedral of Christ Church, on Mkunazini Road, was built at the end of the 19th century by Edward Steere, third bishop of Zanzibar.[27] The cathedral was constructed in a large area at the centre of Stone Town that previously hosted the biggest slave market of Zanzibar; the place was deliberately chosen to celebrate the end of slavery, and the altar was in the exact spot where the main whipping post of the market used to be. A monument to the slaves, as well as a museum on the history of slavery, are besides the church.[28][29]
- The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph was built by French missionaries between 1893 and 1897. The design of the church was based on that of the Marseille Cathedral, its façade, with two high spires, is one of the most well-known landmarks of Stone Town and can be seen from a distance when sailing into the harbor. The church is still operational today and holds regular mass on Sundays.[13]
- The Forodhani Gardens are a small park in the main sea walk of Stone Town, right in front of the Old Fort and the House of Wonders. The garden was recently restored for 3 million dollars by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.[30] Every evening after sunset the gardens host a popular, tourist-oriented market selling grilled seafood and other Zanzibari recipes which attracts both tourists and locals[13][31]
Transportation
The streets in Stone Town are very narrow and almost getting anywhere within the town must be done on foot. The narrow streets provide shade and almost everything is accessible from within the town. However, on slightly wider roads historically bicycles and now most recently motor cycles are used to transport people and goods. The town is accessible from Zanzibar and the rest of the region through three possible ports of entry.
The main form of public transport in Zanzibar are the
The main Zanzibar island harbour is in the heart of Stone Town and regular ferries from
Climate
Stone Town along with the entire
Climate data for Stone Town | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 35 (95) |
38 (100) |
38 (100) |
34 (93) |
33 (91) |
32 (90) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
32 (90) |
32 (90) |
36 (97) |
34 (93) |
38 (100) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 32 (90) |
32 (90) |
32 (90) |
31 (88) |
30 (86) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
30 (86) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
32 (90) |
31 (87) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 24 (75) |
24 (75) |
25 (77) |
25 (77) |
23 (73) |
23 (73) |
22 (72) |
22 (72) |
22 (72) |
22 (72) |
23 (73) |
24 (75) |
23 (74) |
Record low °C (°F) | 18 (64) |
22 (72) |
16 (61) |
19 (66) |
18 (64) |
19 (66) |
18 (64) |
18 (64) |
14 (57) |
14 (57) |
15 (59) |
16 (61) |
14 (57) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 53.7 (2.11) |
53.9 (2.12) |
116.0 (4.57) |
178.6 (7.03) |
131.8 (5.19) |
35.3 (1.39) |
29.5 (1.16) |
23.9 (0.94) |
14.8 (0.58) |
52.0 (2.05) |
75.9 (2.99) |
80.9 (3.19) |
846.3 (33.32) |
Average rainy days | 5 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 71 |
Source: MSN Weather[37][38] |
Notable residents
- Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara), lead vocalist of British band Queen, was born in Stone Town.
- Ali Muhsin al-Barwani, first foreign minister of independent Zanzibar
- Bi Kidude, singer
- David Livingstone, Scottish explorer and missionary
- Tippu Tip, slave trader
- Abdulrazak Gurnah, Nobel prize laurates in literature.
Gallery
-
The Old Dispensary
-
Shangani Post Office
-
Traditional Zanzibar style door
-
Birth house of Freddie Mercury
-
Old Fort
-
St. Joseph's Cathedral, Zanzibar
-
"Poste française". French post office with French flag in Stone Town, before 1900.
References
- ^ Smith, David; correspondent, Africa (26 August 2010). "Zanzibar's slave market is a site made sacred by history". the Guardian. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
- ^ "Stone Town of Zanzibar - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
- ^ "Zanzibar says we must not rely on tourism - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
- ^ a b "Independent Travel Guide to Zanzibar". Retrieved Apr 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c "The Palace Museum, Zanzibar - Zanzibar Travel". www.zanzibartravel.co.za. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ Stone Town at Overland Africa
- ^ "HERITAGE @ RISK: SOUTHERN AFRICA". www.international.icomos.org. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ Francis Barrow Pearce, C.M.G., E. P. (1920). Zanzibar: The Island Metropolis of Eastern Africa. New York City: Dutton and Company.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Horton, Mark and Middleton, Tom. "The Swahili: The Social Landscape of a Mercantile Community." (Oxford: Blackwell, 2010), 46.
- ^ Charles River Editors. "Zanzibar: The History of the International Trade Center off the Coast of Africa." (Charles River Editors, 2016)
- ^ Horton, Mark and Middleton, Tom. "The Swahili: The Social Landscape of a Mercantile Community." (Oxford: Blackwell, 2010), 119.
- ^ "Zanzibar Ngome Kongwe - Zanzibar Old Fort, Zanzibar Excursions". www.utalii.com. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ a b c d e "Zanzibar Stone Town Introduction". zanzibar.cc. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- ^ "Dr. David Livingstone - exploring Africa and searching for the source of the nile - doctor Livingstone I presume". Crawfurd Homepage. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ "Discovering the Rich History of the Indian Ocean World in Zanzibar". ultimatehistoryproject.com. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
- ^ "Wilhelmine Germany and the First World War, 1890-1918 Anglo-German Treaty [Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty] (July 1, 1890)" (PDF). germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/. German History in Documents and Images. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- ^ "The Shortest War in History - The Anglo Zanzibar War". www.historic-uk.com. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ "HISTORY OF ZANZIBAR". www.historyworld.net. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ "The forgotten genocide of the Zanzibar revolution - Speak Magazine". Speak Magazine. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ "Zanzibar hotels Stone Town suburb". www.zanzibarpalmtours.com. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
- ^ "An introduction to Zanzibar Town on the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania". www.zanzibar-travel-guide.com. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
- ^ "House of Wonders and Palace Museum | World Monuments Fund". www.wmf.org. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ Ndilwa, Lilian; Kalumbia, Louis. "Zanzibar in Shock As House of Wonders Collapses". allAfrica. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ "East Africa: Shock Cancellation of Sauti Za Busara Music Fest". allAfrica.com. Allafrica. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ "Zanzibar Stone Town Projects: From the Old Dispensary to the Stone Town Cultural Centre". www.akdn.org. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ "Stone Town - Zanzibar Town". www.zanzibartravel.it. Retrieved Apr 22, 2023.
- ^ "Zanzibar Christians". www.zanzibarhistory.org. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ "History & Heritage". Anglican Diocese of Zanzibar. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ "Friends Of Zanzibar". Friends Of Zanzibar. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ "Aga Khan Trust for Culture Starts US$2.2 million Revitalisation of Forodhani Park in Zanzibar's Historic Stone Town". www.akdn.org. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ "Zanzibar Pizza". AFAR Media. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ Transportation on the island of Unguja
- ^ "Zanzibar Island Transportation". VirtualTourist.com. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ "Ferry between Dar es Salaam & Zanzibar - Zanzibar Quest". www.zanzibarquest.com. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ "ZANZIBAR AIRPORTS AUTHORITY". zaa.go.tz. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ "Climate: Stone Town – Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table – Climate-Data.org". en.climate-data.org. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ "MSN Weather". MSN. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
- ^ "Zanzibar Weather". Retrieved January 3, 2016.
External links
- Media related to Stone Town at Wikimedia Commons
- Stone Town travel guide from Wikivoyage
- UNESCO Stone Town Site
- Stone Town Conservation and Development Authority
- Zanzibar Urban District Homepage for the 2002 Tanzania National Census