Beautiful People and Places of Zanzibar and Tanganyika: Photos from 1936
Compiled by Malik Merchant
(Photographs and captions for this piece are from the Matson (G. Eric and Edith) Photograph Collection at the Library of Congress, USA. Introductory material on mainland Tanzania – then known as Tanganyika – and Zanzibar was compiled from Wikipedia)
Zanzibar
Zanzibar is composed of the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, 25–50 kilometres (16–31 mi) off the coast of the mainland Tanzania, and consists of numerous small islands. The main island is informally referred to Zanzibar.
The islands gained independence from Great Britain on 10 December 1963 as a constitutional monarchy.
A month later, the bloody Zanzibar Revolution, in which hundreds to thousands of Arabs and Indians were killed in a genocide and thousands more expelled, led to the establishment of the People’s Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba. In April 1964, the republic merged with mainland Tanganyika. This United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar was soon renamed (as a portmanteau) the United Republic of Tanzania, of which Zanzibar remains a semi-autonomous region.
En route to Zanzibar. Air view. East coast of Kenya. Palm grove along the beach
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En route to Zanzibar. Air view. Tanga.
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Zanzibar. Air view looking down on central part of city
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Zanzibar. Air view. The town with H.M.S. “Pegasus” of war fame, seen in distance
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Zanzibar. The residency
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Zanzibar. Native huts among the palms
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Zanzibar. Sultan’s palace on the sea front
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Zanzibar. Looking down on town from roof of ancient Arab palace; Catholic church in distance
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Zanzibar. Garden of pineapples
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Zanzibar. Pile of coconuts in a grove
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Zanzibar. Banana stand in the fruit market.
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Zanzibar. Sunset through grove of royal palms
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Zanzibar. Natives treading mud for making bricks
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Zanzibar. Narrow street in the town
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Zanzibar. Elegantly carved Arab doorway, in former Sultan’s palace
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Zanzibar. Close up of Portugese fort
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Zanzibar. Ancient Portugese building, used as a museum
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Zanzibar. Street scene and the commonly used ricksha
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Zanzibar. The Livingstone house showing street entrance
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Zanzibar. Bags of cloves for exportation
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Tanganyika (now Tanzania)
Tanganyika gained independence from the United Kingdom as a Commonwealth Realm on 9 December 1961, becoming a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations exactly a year later on 9 December 1962. On 26 April 1964, Tanganyika joined with the islands of Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, a new state that changed its name to the United Republic of Tanzania within a year.
Dar-es-Salaam. Air view. The sea front
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Dar-es-Salaam. Air view. Closer view of sea front
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Dar-es-Salaam. The new Africa Hotel
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Dar-es-Salaam. The Protestant church
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Dar-es-Salaam. War monument in town square
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Dar-es-Salaam. Large baobab tree on grounds of the residency
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Dar-es-Salaam. Youths in a native market
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Dar-es-Salaam. The coconut market
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Dar-es-Salaam. Native women with cicatrice patterns on their faces and buttons inserted in upper lips
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Dar-es-Salaam. Native woman. Close up. Patterned face and extended upper lip
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Dar-es-Salaam. Sunrise seen through palm grove from across the bay
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Dar-es-Salaam. The railroad club grounds and buildings
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En route to Arusha. A Sunday ‘party. Natives, near Mount Meru
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Arusha. Masai warriors with their gleaming spears at a wedding
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Arusha. Masai warriors with their gleaming spears at a wedding.
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En route to Longido. Country scene near Longido
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En route to Longido. A girl with large ear decorations and quantities of neck rings, with arms covered with cloak
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Ngorongoro Crater. The Ulyate Camping Ground on crater’s edge, glimpse of crater on left
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Ngorongoro Crater. Wooded scene along crater’s edge
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Ngorongoro Crater. Road leading down to the plains in the crater
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Ngorongoro Crater. Stampede of wildebeest in crater
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Ngorongoro Crater. Zebra with crater wall in background
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En route to Arusha. Air view. Mount Kilimanjaro as seen from plane
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En route to Arusha. Snow capped Kilimanjaro from landing ground near Moshi. Plane in foreground
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En route to Arusha. “Oldonyo Samba” Mount Meru from the west
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Arusha. The Arusha Hotel
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Arusha Hotel. Brilliant climbing plant covering porch
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Arusha Hotel. Swimming pool in the midst of luxuriant vegetation
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Arusha. Wedding dance. Masai tribe
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Arusha. Masai warriors on their way to the wedding
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Arusha. Warusha women with trinkets and ornaments. Close up
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Arusha. Masai men wearing peculiar wigs
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Arusha. A yound Masai interested in the camera
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En route to Longido. A woman with her children
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En route to Longido. Typical native straw hut
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En route to Longido. Elephant skull at the rancher’s homestead
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En route to Longido. Flock of countless storks
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En route to Longido. Stork alighting on tree top
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Stork on the wing
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En route to Longido. Woman with spiral decorations on arms and legs
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En route to Longido. Close up of leg spirals
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Rift Valley. Soda lakes in bed of the Rift Valley
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Ngorongoro Crater. Sign board on crater’s edge indicating a complete game reserve
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Ngorongoro Crater. Looking across the crater. Twelve miles diameter
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Arusha. Half-way point from Cape to Cairo
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Rift Valley and en route to Nairobi. Scene along the highway
Date posted: Saturday, November 3, 2012.
We encourage all our readers, their families as well as friends to visit the website of the US Library of Congress by clicking on www.loc.gov, and discover its riches.
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What a wonderful memory you have given us Brother.
Those were GOOD OLD DAYS.
I use to spend hours in the our local Market.
Tanzania is Always my Home away from Home.
May God bless this land of peace Always and Forever
Amen.
Dear Mr. Malik,
Great job and beautiful photos of old nostalgic time.
Re. Zanzibar photos, would like to add some text to some photos and correction on one.
Number 4. The passenger/cargo ship in the picture is the famous British India BI Ship.
8. In the foreground you see an Old Fort with corrugated roof and the building to the right is Karimjee Jivanjee House.
11. Famous ZAKARIA’s fruit shop next to Hotel Number One.
14. Mkunazini Street towards Tharia Topan Street.
17. An error here – this is not any ancient Portuguese building, it is the Peace Memorial Museum designed by Mr. Sinclair, who also designed the Old Post Office, The Courts , etc.
18. Shangani Street.
Ahsante sana
Mohamed Lodhi
Wonderful memories of how it was . The Dar/Tanzania of today is very different. Since leaving Dar aged 15 in 1967 i have been back twice in 2009 and 2013. The proliferation of high rise buildings in Dar means that a lot of the landmarks are a thing of the past.
Vizuri sana, beautiful memories of Indian, British, Arab and African towns. Life was so calm and peaceful. Zanzibar and Dar don’t look so great any more, wish we could put back the clock and bring back the beauty. santi sana malik.
Wonderful and most fascinating of photography and memorial documentation, i had no idea that other people were busy taking note on us and our places..But its very wonderful now we can see the past, i wonder what other things apart from these records that are present…really nice..
Fantastic pics !!
What a fantastic collection of photos, bringing back some lovely memories. Keep it up Malik because that is where our roots are.
I spent first 10 years of my life – from 1960 to 70 in Zanzibar and Dar-es-Salaam. These photos brought nostalgic memories of pristine beaches, peaceful people, abundant foods and busy streets. I have very vague memories of spending hours on the beach with friends.
May God bless you. This is a very wonderful memory.
Thank you so much for selecting these pictures from the US Library of Congress’ excellent collection and presenting them on this blog. A good effort. Keep it up.
Wonderful shots reminded of some of my safaris.
Fascinating sights of incredible sites. I recall having been to many in 1965, 1972, and 1976.
Longing to return for at least one last time.
12/12/2012
Asante sana kutukumbusha tulikotoka! good memories!
Wonderful pictures, beautiful memories..keep it up!
Memories keep flooding back of the old country. Asante Sana.
Safi sana!
Beautiful. Nostalgic. Keep up the spirit
At age 64 and having born and growing up at Dar es Salaam for the first 24 years of my life in Tanzania, these beautiful black and white pictures brought back a lot of nostalgic memories of our growing up years in this Haven of Peace and till today I can’t stop talking of good ol’ Dar…thank you to the expert photographer who was able to can these shots for posterity.
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Excellent old photos depicting the history of Zanzibar and Tanzania.
Brings back the memories.
Thanks.
S B Naik