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Nowadays Zanzibar appears to be a bazaar of cultures. To lift this secret you have to look into the island’s history. The natives of Zanzibar were Africans. However, already in the 8th century Arabian and Persian traders landed at the coast of the East African island. They also brought the Islamic religion, which is still predominant up to today, into the country and did lively trade with India. In 1503 Zansibar was conquered by the Portuguese, who established an important trading post on the island after that. Nevertheless, in the 17th century the Portuguese were expelled of the island by the sultan of Oman. Zanzibar climbed up to a flourishing commercial centre for spices, ivory and, above all, slaves. During the colonisation of Africa Zanzibar became an English protectorate in 1890. Then, in 1897 the slave trade was forbidden by the Britons. In 1963 Zanzibar finally gained its independence and from now on is no longer subordinated of any colonial rule. In 1964 Tanganyika and Zanzibar united to the Republic of Tanzania. In the process Zanzibar kept an autonomous status. In 1995 the first free multi-party elections took place.

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