Zanzibar is a mosaic, colorful like the tunics of women, noisy like tribal songs, magical with its dances that conceal ancestral rites.
The treasure of Zanzibar
This is what is visible, a thin veil under which there is a simple world of union, respect, kindness, joy. A world that we define as “backward”, but which in reality has a lot to teach us. We have the impression of being free while instead we are slaves to everything! To a nice car, to a watch, to clothes, to a million useless things that we think we need. To our smartphone through which we have the impression of being able to trap the world.
Here wealth is something completely different, authentic. It is asking “jambo, how are you?!” even to a stranger you meet on the street. It’s sharing and welcoming. Here you can feel what “modern” man has lost: the deep connection with the earth, with himself.
Focus on the island: Zanzibar
Since 1964 it has been politically part of Tanzania. It’s an archipelago of about forty smaller islands and the two main ones, Zanzibar and Pemba.
The origin of the name has two theories. The first according to which it derives from “zanj”, a word with which the Persians called Africans. “Zang-i bar” literally “Land of the blacks”. The second according to which it derives from “zanjabil” that in Arabic means “ginger”.
We found out that Freddie Mercury was born here on September 5, 1946 in Stone Town! His real name was Farrokh Bulsara and his parents were of Indian and Persian origin. Freddy lived here until he was 8 years old before moving to the UK.
Zanzibar is famous for being the island of spices, many of which arrived in the 8th century along with Persian and Arab traders. Inland you can find cloves, pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, lemongrass and so on!
Our base camp: Kiwengwa
Kiwengwa is located on the north-eastern coast of the island and extends from north to south for about 5 km. It is one of the quietest areas, there are few tourists and here you can meet fishermen with their typical boats and the Masai with their rungu (traditional stick).
The Masai are an African ethnic group that originates from Kenya and lives in northern Tanzania and southern Sudan. They are a semi-nomadic people, warriors and shepherds with a patriarchal social structure.
The stick called “rungu” in Swahili, or “orinka” in Masai is one of the typical traits of this ethnic group.
The Masai wear the shuka, a sort of sarong usually red in color and shave their hair (both men and women).
But let’s get back to Kiwengwa! It is a beach located in an area of the island where the phenomenon of the tides is particularly evident, so the landscape is constantly evolving throughout the day. Kiwengwa beach widens up to 250 meters following the tide and the coral reef protects the shores, reachable on foot in low tide conditions.
The areas of Kendwa and Nungwi (West and North coast), on the other hand, are less affected by tidal movements, which is why the sea never retreats too noticeably.
We personally find this phenomenon fascinating, as it offers different landscapes throughout the day and also the possibility of discovering the numerous forms of life visible on the surface when the sea retreats!
We recommend wearing rock shoes before venturing into the sandbars populated by different types of sea urchins, some of which are very poisonous, crabs, clown fish, starfish of various colors and many other forms of life! And above all, pay attention to the tide to avoid the risk of getting stuck in the water!
The collection of seaweed in Zanzibar
In Kiwengwa we were also able to observe with our own eyes one of the main activities carried out by Zanzibar’s women: the collection of seaweed!
Walking along the beach you find women who collect and transplant seaweed, tearing off an end from the mature ones and tying it to strings of rope fixed 10cm from the ground with stakes. Each tuft of seaweed is ready to be picked after two months. The seaweed is torn off, leaving a portion that will grow again.
The seaweed is then placed in perforated straw baskets and then dried in the sun. They are then pulverized into two different sizes. A finer part, to be mixed with oils and produce soaps, butters, body creams. Another part comes in thicker grains to make scrubs. Everything is done entirely by hand without industrial processes.
And the rest of the island?! We will tell you about it after the next adventure on this wonderful island!