People/Culture:
Fishing in Zanzibar
Due to its central location on ancient trade routes connecting the west and east, the Spice Island has a unique and diverse history. Originally, Zanzibar was settled my African mainlanders about 3,000 years ago and since that time the island, Stone Town in particular, has hosted trade ships from ancient Greece, Egypt, Persia, India, China, and Europe. While leadership on the island has fluctuated between Africans, Sultans, and European powers, the culture and language of Kiswahili flowered. Now Zanzibar is comprised of a diverse and educated group of people whose ancestry can be traced to mainland Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Matemwe, like the rest of the Spice Island is predominately Muslim and like the rest of the east coast of the island, subsists on the bounty of the Indian Ocean. The village of Matemwe has one main sand road running parallel to the ocean which connects a broken string of huts and bungalows that form the backbone of the community. Every day around 3pm one can see traditional dhow fishing boats return from the ocean with their catch of the day. At this time the local market located on the beach is filled with members of the community bargaining and competing for fresh fish and octopus.
Tourism:
The east coast of Zanzibar is dry, arid, and covered in coral rag. This geologic combination makes farming extremely difficult so the people of the east coast mainly rely on fishing for a living. Matemwe is a classic east coast fishing village except its seclusion in the north-east corner of the island has made its white sand beaches and turquoise-blue water desirable to tourists searching for a tranquil and relaxing vacation. The seafood in the village is delicious with fresh fish, octopus, and heaps of prawns and crab to go with fresh fruit and vegetables. If one wants to take a brief respite from the beaches a quick journey into the heart of the island can be made to explore the dense Jozani Forest, home to the indigenous Red Colobus monkey, many bird and butterfly species, giant shrews, and the endangered (and most likely extinct) Zanzibari Leopard. There is all of this not even mentioning the world class diving just off Matemwe’s coast around the Mnemba Island atoll where snorkelers and divers alike can see beautifully colored fish, sea turtles, and other underwater life.
Natural Resources:
Communities depend on fish
Zanzibar as a whole is home to a unique people and culture. The capital, Stone Town or Zanzibar Town, has been named a UNESCO World Heritage and when wandering around the narrow stone alleyways one feels transported back in time. For a brief time in the western world, Zanzibar was considered the mythical ‘spice island’ and one can still purchase the spices that made the island famous and wealthy from local vendors and tourist shops. The distinctiveness of Zanzibari culture is also palpable in Matemwe where one can hear call to prayers, take a ride on traditional dhow boats, and see women and children search the shallows for octopus during the morning low tide. The western side of the island, where Stone Town is located, has rich soil suitable for banana and coconut plantations as well as vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, and many other spices. Resorts and bungalows are predominant on the eastern side of the island due to its tropical climate, idyllic beaches, and seafood.
Find out more about our Matemwe projects here >
