Stone Town, also called Mji Mkongwe (which means "old town" in Swahili), is the old part of Zanzibar City, the main city of Zanzibar in Tanzania. The newer part of the city is called Ng'ambo, which means "the other side" in Swahili. Stone Town is located on the western coast of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago. It was once the capital of the Zanzibar Sultanate and an important center for the spice trade and the Indian Ocean slave trade in the 19th century. It remained the main city of Zanzibar during the British protectorate period. When Tanganyika and Zanzibar joined to form the United Republic of Tanzania, Zanzibar kept a semi-autonomous status, with Stone Town as its local government seat.

Stone Town is a city of great historical and artistic importance in East Africa. Most of its buildings date back to the 19th century and show the mix of influences in Swahili culture, including Arab, Persian, Indian, and European styles. Because of this, the town was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

Because of its rich history, Stone Town is a major tourist attraction in Tanzania. A large part of its economy depends on activities related to tourism.

Overview

Stone Town's main area has many narrow streets lined with homes, shops, markets, and mosques. Most streets are too small for cars, so many people use bicycles and motorbikes instead. The area near the sea has wider streets and larger, more evenly spaced buildings.

Stone Town's buildings show influences from Arab, Persian, Indian, European, and African cultures. The name "Stone Town" comes from the common use of coral stone, which gives the buildings a warm red color. Traditional homes often have a baraza, a long stone bench outside the walls. This bench is used as a raised walkway during heavy rains or as a place to sit and rest. Many buildings also have large verandas protected by carved wooden railings. The most famous feature of Zanzibari homes is their beautifully decorated wooden doors. These doors often have detailed carvings and brass decorations from Indian traditions. Two main door styles exist: Indian-style doors have rounded tops, while Omani Arab-style doors are rectangular. Carvings often include Islamic symbols, like verses from the Qur'an, but sometimes show other designs, such as Indian lotus flowers.

Stone Town has many important historical buildings, especially along the seafront. These include old palaces, forts, churches, mosques, and other public buildings.

The Stone Town Conservation and Development Act of 1994 outlines steps to protect and improve the town's heritage. Although a Conservation Authority was created, about 80% of the 1,709 buildings in Stone Town are in poor condition. Coral stone is easily damaged, so regular repairs are needed. Recent restoration work, especially near the seafront, has been done by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).

History

The Sultanate of Kilwa ruled before 1503. The Portuguese Empire controlled the area from 1503 to 1698. The Sultanate of Oman ruled from 1698 to 1856. The Sultanate of Zanzibar ruled from 1856 to 1890. The British Empire controlled the region from 1890 to 1963. The Republic of Zanzibar existed from 1964 to 1964, when it became part of Tanzania, which remains the current government.

An ancient text from the 1st to 3rd centuries, called the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, mentioned an island named Menuthias, likely referring to Unguja, now called Zanzibar. Zanzibar, like nearby areas, was settled by Bantu-speaking people around the start of the first millennium. Archaeological discoveries at Fukuchani, on Zanzibar’s northwest coast, show a farming and fishing community existed by the 6th century CE. Evidence of wooden buildings, shell beads, bead grinders, and iron slag has been found there. Limited long-distance trade occurred, with imported pottery making up less than 1% of finds, mostly from the Gulf and dating to the 5th to 8th centuries. Similar sites, such as Mkokotoni and Dar es Salaam, suggest shared cultural development that led to early coastal maritime communities. Coastal towns, including Zanzibar, participated in Indian Ocean trade as early as this time. Trade grew rapidly after the mid-8th century, and by the end of the 10th century, Zanzibar had become a major Swahili trading center.

Shangani, the original fishing village that later became Stone Town, was a small Swahili site founded in the 11th century. Larger towns like Unguja Ukuu, Kizimkazi, and Tumbatu were the island’s main powers from the 8th to the 16th century. The Portuguese built a church in Shangani in the early 16th century, and the Queen of northern Unguja had a house built there in the mid-17th century. After the Portuguese were driven out by Zanzibaris and Pembans in the 17th century, local leaders invited the Sultan of Oman to rule in exchange for protection against Portuguese attacks. Part of the Portuguese church was incorporated into an Omani fort, which housed about 50 soldiers. The Sultan also appointed a local governor, but political power remained with the Mwinyi Mkuu, Queen Fatima at the time.

Excavations on Pemba Island and especially at Shanga in the Lamu Archipelago show how buildings changed over time. Houses were first built with wood around 1050 CE and later with mud and coral walls around 1150 CE. By the 13th century, houses were made of stone bonded with mud, and by the 14th century, lime was used to hold stone together. Only wealthy families had homes made of stone and lime, which allowed for flat roofs, while most people lived in single-story thatched houses similar to those from earlier centuries. According to Tom Middleton and Mark Horton, these stone houses had no Arab or Persian features and were an independent development of local architecture. Although much of Stone Town’s architecture was rebuilt during Omani rule, nearby sites show how Swahili and Zanzibari architecture developed before the 15th century.

Stone Town is located near a natural harbor. The first Europeans to reach Zanzibar were the Portuguese, who ruled the island for over two centuries. They built the Old Fort, the first stone structure in Stone Town. By the late 17th century, the Sultanate of Oman took control of the island and completed the fort to protect against attacks. The first stone houses in Stone Town were likely built in the early 1800s, replacing an earlier fishing village near the Old Fort. The Old Fort, the oldest building in Stone Town, was constructed in 1699 by the Omanis. At that time, the Sultanate of Oman controlled Zanzibar, Mombasa, and the Swahili coast.

In 1824, Sultan Said bin Sultan moved his capital from Muscat, Oman, to Stone Town, making it the new capital of the Sultanate of Oman and Zanzibar. This led to rapid development. However, when the British banned the slave trade in the Indian Ocean, the Sultanate’s economy suffered. The Muscat economy declined, and many Omanis moved to Zanzibar. The growing Arab population on the island contributed to more buildings and the construction of grand structures like the House of Wonders and the Sultan’s Palace. In 1861, a war of succession in the Omani royal family led to Zanzibar becoming an independent sultanate under Sultan Majid bin Said.

In the 19th century, Stone Town became a major trading center, especially for spices (mainly cloves) and slaves. The sultanate had a close relationship with the British. For example, David Livingstone stayed in Stone Town in 1866 while preparing for an expedition into East Africa. Immigrant communities from Oman, Persia, and India formed due to the city’s commercial activity. The Sultan of Zanzibar encouraged foreign traders to settle in the city, which added diversity to its architecture.

By the late 19th century, Zanzibar’s sultans lost control of mainland East Africa to Germany and the United Kingdom. In 1890, the Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty made Zanzibar a British protectorate. In 1896, a rebellion by Zanzibari Omanis against British rule led to the Anglo-Zanzibar War, the shortest war in history. The Sultan surrendered after 45 minutes of naval bombardment by the Royal Navy.

During British rule, the Sultan retained some power, and Stone Town remained an important trading center. A railway was built from the town to Bububu village. The British did not fund major developments but allowed the Sultan to manage island affairs from Stone Town. They gave Mombasa and Dar es Salaam priority as trading stations in East Africa.

In 1964, Stone Town was the site of the Zanzibar Revolution, which ended the sultanate and created a socialist government led by the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP). Over 20,000 people died, and many Arabs and Indians fled the island. The ASP took over homes left behind by these groups and converted them into public buildings. In 1964, Zanzibar joined Tanganyika to form Tanzania, and Stone Town remained the capital of Zanzibar, which became a semi-autonomous part of the new nation.

Geography

Stone Town is located near the center of the west coast of Unguja, on a small point of land that sticks out into the Zanzibar Channel. The nearest large town on the Tanzanian coast, directly across from Stone Town to the south-west, is Bagamoyo. Stone Town is part of Zanzibar City, which also includes the 'New City' of Ng'ambo, meaning "the Other Side." Ng'ambo mainly covers the inland area of Unguja to the south-east. The border between Stone Town and Ng'ambo is Creek Road, later renamed Benjamin Mkapa Road. This road marks the western edge of a creek that once separated the two areas but has since been filled in.

Landmarks

• The House of Wonders, also called the Palace of Wonders or Beit-al-Ajaib, is located on Mizingani Road near the Stone Town seafront. It is one of Stone Town’s most famous landmarks. Built in 1883, it was restored after the Anglo-Zanzibar War in 1896. Originally the Sultan’s home, it later became the headquarters of the Afro-Shirazi Party after the revolution. It was the first building in Zanzibar to have electricity and the first in East Africa to have an elevator. Since 2000, its interior has been used as a museum about Swahili and Zanzibar culture. In December 2020, during renovations, a large part of the building collapsed in a serious accident.

• The Old Fort, known as Ngome Kongwe in Swahili, is a large stone fortress next to the House of Wonders. Built in the 17th century by the Omanis, it was constructed to protect the city from European attacks. The building has a square shape, and its central courtyard now includes a cultural center with shops, workshops, and a small arena for daily dance and music performances. The area is also where the Zanzibar International Film Festival takes place.

• The Old Dispensary, also called the Ithnashiri Dispensary, was built between 1887 and 1894 by an Indian trader. It was originally a charity hospital for poor people but later became a dispensary. One of Stone Town’s most beautifully decorated buildings, it features carved wooden balconies, stained-glass windows, and neo-classical stucco details. After falling into disrepair in the 1970s and 1980s, the building was carefully restored by the AKTC.

• The Palace Museum, also known as the Sultan’s Palace or Beit el-Sahel in Arabic, is another former sultan’s palace. Located on the seafront north of the House of Wonders, it was built in the late 19th century. Today, it houses a museum displaying items from the daily life of the Zanzibari royal family, including belongings of Sayyida Salme, a Zanzibar princess who moved to 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, the third bishop of Zanzibar. It was constructed in an area that once held the largest slave market in Zanzibar. The location was chosen to mark the end of slavery, and the altar is placed where the main whipping post of the market once stood. A monument honoring former slaves and a museum about the history of slavery are located near the church.

• The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph was built by French missionaries between 1893 and 1897. Its design was inspired by the Marseille Cathedral, and its façade with two tall spires is one of Stone Town’s most recognizable landmarks. The cathedral is still in use today and holds regular Sunday masses.

• The Forodhani Gardens are a small park on the main seafront walk of Stone Town, located near the Old Fort and the House of Wonders. Recently restored with $3 million from the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the gardens host a popular evening market after sunset. The market sells grilled seafood and other Zanzibari dishes, attracting both tourists and locals.

Transportation

The streets in Stone Town are very narrow, and moving around the town usually requires walking. These narrow streets offer shade, and most places within the town are easy to reach on foot. On slightly wider roads, people historically used bicycles, and now motorcycles are commonly used to move people and goods. Stone Town can be reached from Zanzibar and other nearby areas through three different ports.

The main public transportation in Zanzibar is the daladala, which are shared taxis. The main daladala station is near the Darajani Market. Daladalas travel from Stone Town to several locations on the island, including Bububu (a village north of Stone Town), the airport, the Amaan Stadium, Jangombe, and Magomeni, Zanzibar. For longer trips, "mabasi" (Swahili for "bus") are available. These are trucks that have been adapted to carry passengers. The main mabasi station is also near the Darajani Market, and the mabasi network covers the entire island. It is the most affordable way to travel long distances.

The main harbor on Zanzibar is located in the center of Stone Town. Regular ferries connect the town to the mainland from Dar es Salaam and Pemba. Stone Town is also close to Zanzibar Airport, which is 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) south of the town. The airport offers flights to mainland Tanzania, especially to Arusha and Dar es Salaam, as well as to major African airports like Nairobi, Mombasa, and Johannesburg.

Climate

Stone Town and the entire Zanzibar Archipelago have the same climate throughout the year. The island has hot and tropical weather all year, with the hottest months being February and March and the coolest months being July and August. Most months receive a lot of rain, with a long rainy season from March to May and a shorter rainy season from November to December. Dry periods occur between December to February and May to August, and these times are the best for tourists who enjoy beaches.

Notable residents

• Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara), the main singer of the British rock band Queen, was born in Stone Town.
• Ali Muhsin al-Barwani, the first foreign minister of independent Zanzibar.
• Bi Kidude, a singer.
• David Livingstone, a Scottish explorer and missionary.
• Tippu Tip, a slave trader.
• Abdulrazak Gurnah, a Nobel prize laurates in literature.

Gallery

• The Old Dispensary
• Shangani Post Office
• Door in the traditional Zanzibar style
• Birthplace of Freddie Mercury
• The Anglican Cathedral of Zanzibar
• Old Fort
• St. Joseph's Cathedral, Zanzibar
• Swahili-style door
• French post office with a French flag, known as "Poste française," located in Stone Town before the year 1900.