Zanzibar

Zanzibar, Tanzania, comprises a pair of islands off the east coast of Africa called Zanzibar ('Unguja') (1994 est. pop. 800,000, 1,554 km²) and Pemba. They are, together with Mafia Island, sometimes referred to as the Spice Islands, though this term is more commonly associated with the Maluku Islands in Indonesia.

History

Zanzibar was settled by Persian immigrants from Shiraz, and the name Zanzibar probably derives from the Persian زنگبار Zangi-bar meaning "Coast of the Blacks". However, the name could also have been derived from the Arabic Zayn Z'al Barr, meaning "Fair is this land". The island was later a Portuguese possession from 1503 to 1698.

Related Topics:
Persian - Shiraz - Persian - Portuguese possession

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In 1698 Zanzibar became part of the overseas holdings of Oman, falling under the control of the Sultan of Oman. On April 6, 1861, following a struggle over the accession to the position of Sultan of Oman, Zanzibar and Oman were divided into two separate principalities. Sayyid Majid bin Said Al-Busaid (1834/5–1870), son of Sayyid Said bin Sultan Al-Busaid, became Sultan of Zanzibar, while his brother Sayyid Turki bin Said Al-Busaid (1832–1888) became Sultan of Oman.

Related Topics:
Oman - Sultan of Oman - April 6 - 1861 - Sayyid Said bin Sultan Al-Busaid - Sayyid Turki bin Said Al-Busaid

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During this period, the Sultan of Zanzibar also controlled a substantial portion of the east African coast, known as Zanj, including Mombasa and Dar es Salaam. In November 1886, a German-British border commission established the Zanj as a 10 nautical mile (19 km) wide strip along the coast from Cape Delgado (now in Mozambique) to Kipini (now in Kenya) including all offshore islands and several towns in what is now in Somalia . However, from 1887 to 1892, all of these mainland possessions were subsequently lost to the colonial powers of Britain, Germany, and Italy although some were not formally sold or ceded until the 20th century (e.g., Mogadishu to Italy in 1905 and Mombasa to Kenya in 1963).

Related Topics:
Zanj - Mombasa - Dar es Salaam - Mozambique - Kipini - Kenya - Somalia - Britain - Germany - Italy - Mogadishu

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The British Empire gradually took over, and Zanzibar and the British position was formalized by the 1890 Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty in which Germany pledged not to interfere with British interests in insular Zanzibar. Zanzibar became a protectorate of the United Kingdom that year. The British appointed first Viziers from 1890 to 1913, and then British Residents from 1913 to 1963.

Related Topics:
British Empire - Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty - Protectorate - United Kingdom - Viziers - British Resident

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On August 27, 1896, the short Anglo-Zanzibar War broke out over the succession of Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini and ended with the accession of British client Sultan Hamoud bin Mohammed. Acquiesing to Britsh demands, Hamoud brought an end to Zanzibar's role as a centre for the eastern slave trade that had begun under Omani rule in 17th Century by banning slavery and freeing the slaves of Zanzibar by compensation in 1897.

Related Topics:
August 27 - 1896 - Anglo-Zanzibar War - Hamad bin Thuwaini - Hamoud bin Mohammed - Slave trade - Oman - Slavery

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On December 19, 1963, Zanzibar received its independence from the United Kingdom as a constitutional monarchy under the Sultan. This state of affairs was short-lived, as the Sultan was overthrown on January 12, 1964, and on April 26 of that year Zanzibar merged with the mainland state of Tanganyika to form Tanzania, of which it remains a part to this day.

Related Topics:
December 19 - 1963 - United Kingdom - Constitutional monarchy - January 12 - 1964 - April 26 - Tanganyika - Tanzania

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