Historical Sites in Zanzibar

Old Anglican Church in Zanzibar

The Old Anglican Church is a must see for anyone interested in Zanzibar history and the influence of the British abolitionist movement on Zanzibar.  The Cathedral's altar symbolically stands on the location of the whipping post from the island's largest slave market.  The Church is open to visitation, and on the grounds is one of the most famous Slave Monuments in the world.

The Cathedral was built in 1873 by Edward Steere, the third Bishop of Zanzibar and famous British abolitionist.  The Cathedral took ten years to build and its strange barrel vault roof was Steere’s own invention.  It still stands strong today despite the local belief at the time of construction that it would never hold.  Bishop Steer died in 1882 and was buried behind the altar.

Of further historical significance, the wooden cross was made from the tree beneath which the famed explorer and anti-slavery crusader Dr. David Livingstone's heart was buried.  He died at the village of Dhitambo in Zambia on 2 May 1873 while searching for the source of the Nile.  Two of his loyal companions, Susi and Chumah, removed his heart and buried it under the tree at the spot where he died.  They dried his body in the sun for two weeks before carrying it back to Zanzibar.

Livingstone House in Zanzibar

David Livingstone is probably the best-known of all the 19th century European explorers in Africa. Many of his journeys began and ended in Zanzibar, and he lived in this house before departing on his final journey to identify the source of the Nile.

The house was built around 1860 by Sultan Majid andis located on thenortheast side of Stone Town. It was used by Livingstone and other missionaries and explorers such as Burton, Speke, Cameron and Stanley as a starting point for expeditions into eastern and central Africa during the second half of the 19th century.

In the early 20th century, the house was used by members of the island's Indian community for a variety of purposes. In 1947, it was bought by the colonial government and became a scientific laboratory for research into clove diseases. After independence and the revolution it became the Zanzibar headquarters of the Tanzania Friendship Tourist Bureau. Today, this old building is now the main office of the Zanzibar Tourist Corporation (ZTC).

 

St. Joseph's Cathedral in Zanzibar

The Roman Catholic cathedral of St. Joseph is an important historical building located in the Baghani area of Stone Town, Zanzibar.  It was built by French missionaries between 1893 and 1898, and the plans were drawn by the same French architect who designed the cathedral in Marseilles, France.  The defining characteristic of the cathedral are its twin spires (similar to those of Marseille’s church) which are prominent elements of the Stone Town’s skyline and can be easily spotted from a distance off the coast.  Despite these prominent spires, the church itself can prove difficult to find while walking the narrow streets of Baghani. 

The cathedral interior is painted with murals from the Old Testament, many of which have deteriorated over time and some have been poorly restored.  The tiles and stained glass windows were all imported from France. 

The cathedral is in regular use by Stone Town’s Catholic community - a mixture of Zanzibaris, Tanzanians from the mainland, Goans and Europeans.  There are several masses held each Sunday and occasionally on weekdays.  Outside mass times, the main cathedral doors are usually locked, but entrance can sometimes be gained via the back.