History
Zanzibar is the semi-autonomous part of Tanzania in East-Afrika. Consist of numerous small islands and two large ons: Unguja (the main island, referred to informally as Zanzibar) and Pemba.
The people of Zanzibar are of diverse ethnic origins. The first permanent residents of Zanzibar seem to have been the ancestors of the Bantu Hadimu and Tumbatu, who began arriving from the African Great Lakes mainland around AD 1.000. Zanzibar became part of the Portuguese Empire in 1503.Control of islands eventually came into the hands of the British Empire in 19.th.
The islands gained independence from United Kingdom on 10. December 1963 as a constitutional monarchy.
Zanzibar main industries are spice, raffia and tourism. In particular, the islands produce cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and black pepper. For this reason, the island, together with Tansania’s Mafia island, are sometimes called the Spice Islands.
Notable people from Zanzibar is Farouque Abdullahi, who was Princess Diana’s designer.
Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara) of the rock band QUEEN was born in Stone Town, Zanzibar.
