Zanzibaris often, live day to day and face a wide variety of challenges. Despite political divisions, they are united by pride in their unique culture, history, and in hope for a better future. Zanzibar is seeing a regular decrease in poverty, and tourism is bringing about signs of change. The government’s new policies on tourism, health care, and education provide a chance for a brighter future as initiatives are implemented with an aim in building a new Zanzibar with a sustainable tourism sector. Individual efforts throughout the archipelago are coming together to transform the life of a nation by bringing residents into a new social and political era. Life here has always been vibrant and full of energy. The deeply rooted traditions of island life have not lost any of their strength. Zanzibaris want to move out of the shadows and build a brighter future on the rubble of the past. The whole world can see how the Spice Islanders are starting to forge their own path. For the first time in centuries they are masters of their own destiny. After all the storms weathered they can finally feel a fresh breeze in their sails. For Zanzibaris, the future is as bright as the sun shining down on this tropical paradise. After many difficult years, the time has come for Zanzibar, to shine.
I’m sooo excited to watch this documentary. I worked there for a few months in 2016 helping to create sustainable livelihoods by building farmers up to start a business with their produce and connecting them to the hotels. I personally have mixed reviews about oversea volunteers now I’ve grown up a bit. But, it makes me sooo happy to see they are actually improving in this area and the future is bright for them
the is because the president tested a fruit and the cdc said it was positive with covid and he threw them out his country. they was not going along with this hox to destroy their economy like we are doing
I'm actually considering getting away from all the covid craziness in the EU and moving to Zanzibar. After this Doc. I really really want to go. Thanks for confirming my suspicion about the covid measures, none! I haven't worn a mask and I really hope I'll never do.
I'm heading to Zanzibar soon and I'm so grateful to have come across this video beforehand. In the West, we often fail to appreciate that locals don't have the luxury to enjoy the relatively 'simple' joys of their own country that we as tourists can easily access. I'm definitely going to be more mindful of the struggles and beauty across the island when I'm there especially paying more attention to supporting locally owned businesses where possible.
Who ever prepared this documentary deserves an award 🥇! The documentary isn’t biased at all, it has covered most challenges, pride, and the future of Zanzibar. I hope the officials watched this documentary and learn something from it!
R.I.P Maalim Seif Zanzibari politics will never be the same without you. Now i wonder whos going to fit on your great shoe 💔💔 Thank you for the Love. Allah akurehemu amin
May Allah Rest Maalim Seif soul in peace. He wanted so hard to change Zanzibar for better but unfortunately he never got where he wanted to be, and today we have lost a bravest Hero of Zanzibar.
Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad, a true historical figure, a fighter for Zanzibar's interests, loved by so many in Zanzibar. An exceptional statesman and gentleman. This is a great loss to the nation of Zanzibar. He will be missed
I was there in February and loved it so much I am returning this weekend. Beautiful place, great weather. beautiful people, good food. You can’t go wrong. A must go!
@@ginaburnett3404 I can help you. I went by myself the first time. Met an excellent tour guide. A girlfriend is going April 2nd and she’s in contact with him and is very pleased. It’s a very safe place also
Great documentary Mat ,we are a cultural music NGO Kizi-Noor Cultural Centre from Zanzibar and we salute you and honour and appreciate you for this ,may Allah bless you
Excellent, thorough and balanced documentary. As new Zanzibaris, we were happy to see this and to be able to confirm its accuracy with our lived experience the past 6 months. Zanzibar is a wonderful place, but full of problems and inequity. The hope for the future lies with the exceptional people of Zanzibar. Our desire to live here has only grown as we've gotten to know them.
Stefan Tomson , I would like to get your contact caz I have a plan to work intensively with this project . I live in Copenhagen and I am zanzibari. But I want to gor home in order to support this new government . As they asked the diaspora to come to zanzibar. Than I would try.
Very informative and wide-ranging documentary. I am sad that the locals are not benefiting from tourism. My condolences on the passing of their president Magafuli. Tanzania has always been blessed with good leaders.
You are receiving free medical free electrical power supply and free education from primary schools to university. Still your complaint. People's are benefiting ,thats why union is growing stronger. Who are complaining much are blinding themselves from truth.
Thank you for this documentary,you have made me into tears since I repeat watching this documentary all you have said is the problems and challenges facing Zanzibar
Woow very informative,I will be in Zanzibar for the dec holidays,its has always been my dream to go there,this video has given more information that I will use.Great video
May God bless you. This is the most accurate documentary I've seen about Zanzibar. Thank you for doing your research and providing people with this wonderful documentary. I've been there this summer and I left the island with a broken heart. The main problem is the ruling CCM party in Zanzibar and Tanganyika. Mungu akulaze mahala pema Maalim Seif Sharif. My personal opinion: the Union is a haux and will never treat Zanzibar as an equal partner. African leaders are way to greedy to treat each other fairly. The only solution is Zanzibars independency and to take their destiny in their own hands.
Well as far as I know Zanzibar is an semi-autonomous archipelago consisting of Unguja and Pemba. The Union consists of Zanzibar and Tanganyika. So how do you devide Pemba and Unguja by deviding the Union. Maybe I am misonformed and I will be happy to hear how you came to that conclusion.
ITS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN THE WORLD. AS A SOUTH AFRICAN I COULD NOT HAVE CHOSEN A BETTER PLACE I CALL HOME NOW.IM STAYING IN NKUNAZI STONETOWN. COME AND VISIT WE WILL TAKE YOU THRU HISTORY.
Very informative video and well worth the watch, especially for people who have left the isle of Zanzibar after 64! We are where we are and the past cannot be undone (sadly). However, Zanzibar can make a change for the future and bring about prosperity with the right people at the helms. As i watch, it seems the rich are getting richer whilst down the pecking order poverty exist with no end in site. Reform possibly, but will take time and a great leader who is elected by the people for the people.
Thanking you sincerely for this documentary. My parents abd grandparents are from Zanzibar. Its like a second home to me. Very rarely do you see such an in depth insite into the truth of this Island 🏝
@@homodeus8713 would you rather have no income? I'm learning what locals really want . Don't mzungu create jobs and demand for food accommodations excursions?!
@@HoneybeeAwning we used to get free education, free and high quality of health services, zero corruption in our politicians ,civil servants and policemen! even was peaceful in our streets . But since creation of tourists destination we lost everythings, included our conversation, culture and environment.
@@lenakh254 No, they won’t die. They have lived without tourists before. However, I don’t deny the fact that tourism would have improved their lives. Don’t forget, tourists are no philanthropists or Father Christmas. They come to satisfy some burning urge. And Zanzibar and its people help satisfy that yearning by providing relevant services. The relationship between the locals and the tourists must be seen as mutually beneficial. That mindset is critical in the mix!
The tourism brings nothing to locals but course, almost all working to the tourism industry are people who are coming from outside Zanzibar, this industry does not fit with Zanzibari culture its just government who took it as a necessary evil.
I visited Tanzania and Zanzibar last year, so beautiful countries and Beautiful people. And the history was emotional at times but fascinating if I can say that xx🇹🇿🥰✌️
thank you for expressing our point of views .Pls continue the good work u started and spread the word so that us Zanzibaris could thrive in happines in our own country and not live in fear of expression on our opinions
Thank you so much for this documentary, it's so well shot and all the people interviewed gave such valued testimonials. Then we who travel there can be more mindful and intentional about how we can positively impact Zanzibaris!
Geez.. i was so excited to go visit n your video put such a damper on it. Listing problem over problem over problem n then try to lighten it up a bit toward the end. If i didnt know about the world i would think Zanzibar was the inly country facing such challenges. Thank God i am knowledgeable about yhe woeld. i will still visit despite this documentary. Cinematography was good though.
Is a good documentary. My view is that every country in the world have challenges, even if Zanzibar become independent, it will still have difficulties. For example my country South Sudan is a rich country with much minerals yet it's ranged the poorest Country.
I'm a Black "African" American. I'm planning a trip to Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar, with my wife and 3 children. I've had concerns of foreign influence and investors controlling the economy, leaving the local population poor. I experienced this is Jamaica, foreign investors own the island. Can someone point me to quality experiences where I can spend my monies with locals independent service providers and merchants: Tours, Restaurants, Hotels, etc.
Leave the island as it is; the government should not allow any more hotels and tourist facilities to be developed/built. Impose a tourism tax similar to that of Bhutan (they charge about $200/day to tourists in an effort to preserve their environment and culture). Use the tourism taxes to feed back to Zanzibar and provide better education and healthcare. Zanzibar is unbelievably beautiful, even when such taxes are imposed, the environmental and financial gains and impact on cultural preservation will outweigh the financial loss from the reduction in tourists.
What sucks is they allow Germans and Italians to built hotels and sky rocket the prices. None of that money goes to the local economy or the locals. I’ve been many times (from Mozambique) and most workers at hotels unfortunately are mainlanders instead of employing locals
@@NKiani yep i was there last months that is the sad truth about znz. Locals are suffering Europeans are gaining and some of them are still racist towards the locals. The one thing i don’t like about this tourist industry 😤
We just returned today. Tourist can be taking to exclusive beach resorts and tourism is a major part of the economy. But Wow. The poverty is far and wide. Expect a lot of street merchants selling persistently but not aggressively. Still a ways to go. I have hope for them.
Thank you, too kind! You have my permission to screen and play this movie as you wish. Invite movie guests, journalists and play it as you wish. Just let me know. Would be glad and maybe join the screening.
Are you not tired of Africa and Africans offering themselves, their land for sale: slavery and now tourism? Are they not any other ways for them to organize themselves?
Very true, I am from Kenya and half of the Kenyan coast is owned by foreign investors, have never been to Zanzibar so not sure how it's autonomy works.
"They should not treat Zanzibar as something they posses, they should treat Zanzibar as an equal partner in the union" Very wisely said, I am intrigued. To be honest, I'm not too familiar with the history and political situation of Zanzibar, however I am studying it at the moment every single day. Something draws me to this place, something unexplainable. The people of Zanzibar have beautiful smiles but I can feel the pain in some people's eyes and I want to help in any way I can. I am watching this amazing documentary and there's tears running down my face. AllahuAqbar! I will prayer for this island and all of Tanzania, InshaAllah it will become more and more of a better place to live for everyone. I am aware that the island and the rest of Tanzania is rapidly changing which makes me so so happy! It seems like many people living there know exactly how to run a business and make economy better. Other countries around the world should definetaly learn a lot from Tanzanians, especially honesty and morality. (I state my opinion based on observations from my private research) I'd like to add that I'm also a muslim from Poland and I am looking forward to travelling to Zanzibar at the end of this year, hopefully all goes well. (if anybody has any relevant information for me, let me know in the comment section below this post). Thank you so much for creating this documentary, it helps me understand the politics and culture whilst preparing me for my travel.
Zanzibar should learn about developing its tourist industry from Cape Verde another African Island nation that depends on tourism. And from Spain, how to use its construction industry to beat money out of tourists.
My opinion: What ever the case. All Zanzibari citizen they must view one direction. They should forget what happen the past. A unit is s vessel which will vanish all differences. They shoul admit the differences is the cause people to suffer. How comes today most of citizen they end with poor meal & poor health as well poor accommodation.
Tourism is distroying the economy of poorer Zanzibarian. They can not compare with what tourism have to offers and for that reason sellers prefer to sell everything to the foreigners and the locals suffer more. Zanzibar uses shillings as a currency, but now they prefer dollar as it sound small but it worth a lot than a shilling.
Tourism Minister: Why I am not afraid I pitch my idea... Answer: You are not because you pitch what your masters wants to hear. And so much for restoration of House of Wonder that it fell :(
Please the people of Zanzibar, understand this FACT. Rapid growth in tourism is always bad for the environment. It brings: Overconsumption of local resources and pollution of many kinds, especially to the marine environment. There can be invasive species introduced and unless additional waste water and sewage treatment facilities are built and properly run / maintained, there will be a lot of marine damage. It's all in the history books too, as proof, all around the world. Wherever tourism grows it brings it's own problems. Tourism must be very carefully managed, it can quickly become a monster! Zanzibar will not escape the environmental fate of many other island nations unless strict controls on the expansion of tourism are set and rigorously managed.
First Zanzibari were resistance to tourism industry sayings its against Islam and that's where non Muslim from mainland and Kenya take advantage till now!!
@@irenewile its not a nightmare actually if you ask most zanzibar residents who are 90 percent Muslims, they would rather join a peaceful united stable Somalia than any non Muslim country Obviously I don't mean the somalia of today which is recovering from turmoil and is starting to rebuild itself, I mean the somalia of the next 10 to 20 years Either way, I wish them hope and good fortune, one thing is clear, zanzibar was never part of any kingdom in Tanzania historically as none existed except the Omani sultanate of the swahili lands, so there is no historical justification for the union which was only formed due to zanzibar joining Tanganyika, just like they joined they can leave and if they want to leave and form their own country I welcome that decision and wish them luck
I’m a Tanzanian and I understand swahili, there are no single instance that they say they are exploited by prices of cloves. Only 1 of 3 people actually said there is a need to increase prices a little more and it’s actually the government preparing for liberalization. While you ignored the ones who actually said the government is assisting farmers get better prices😂😂😂 And ignoring the fact that how are these small farmers going to sell their cloves(add a middle man😝) •a lot of your narrations are pre-meditated idea you had/given I’m not sure the intention of the documentary but its all for wrong reasons. Chao
@@KAlli-xv6el You must be one of those brainwashed Zanzibari who think they are Arabs. Here’s a fact check for you, Zanzibar is a black land, and most of us are happy with the Union.
@@SimbaM2kufu hahahah yes u figured me out i am brainwashed yep by them arabs same as you were brainwashed by the white man but sorry i am not Zanzibari. All love stay blessed
Thabit kombo say he sees the benefits of the unions because he is in ccm party and he works with government and he can do anything but honestly this contry has no democracy
Their infrastructure for the hospitality industry doesn't exist.if they want to change their situation and help the locals,and do not hire any foreigners in their hotels unless Zanzibaris are unwilling to work in them.you take care of family and the citizens first,that is what is patriotic,nothing else.stop deliberating and worrying what the world thinks of the quality standards in terms of knowledge of your country to be a tour guide,if the tourists don't like the tour guides,they can go visit another island.Zanzibar,put your foot down and take back your country,don't let foreigners dictate your wellbeing in your own country,and by the way,I am a foreigner,and if I ever come to your island,I will deliberately be eating in restaurants run and owned by zanzibaris,where only zanzibaris work,and I will be buying local everything.
Have you seen how bad the locals are at any service?? Slow slow slow, it’s so bad. Do you think owners enjoy paying crazy salaries to Europeans to work? They must do it or nothing will happen
Why were there no translation or subtitles of some of the narratives of the local dialect? The educated, professional and politicians spoke English but, when the Zanzibari locals spoke on matters that concern them eg, the local farmers, man in blue shirt on the street, market woman traders, beach vendor all spoke in their local dialect and no translation yet, I'm more concerned of their opinions as it relates to them. Pls could we have this re-edited to have subtitles. I was really perturbed as it seems the locals opinion was undermined.
Only watched the beginning, allow me to correct something you mentioned, Islam as a religion wildly encouraged freeing slaves of all races.. the story of Belal is a great example, I highly recommend that you read it. I’m glad the era of slavery is over of course but can’t really discuss a period of time where slavery was acceptable in the whole world! (Not just by Arabs !) but I can definitely say that Islam helped freeing them and secured basic slaves rights..I hope my replay corrects the wrong notion that Islam somehow supported slavery of Africans as mentioned in your clip. Final note: if Islam was a religion that offended people from African race why it’s the main religion of the island till now !?! Think about it !
This is what NYERERE warned about in 1995 to 1998,when they will start saying “we zanbarians and them Tanzanians” infact we are not even Tanzanians but Tanganyikans , This is program is what you start division that will go and create Sins that Mwalimu warned about and blood will never Stop What a mess…..
But also, Zanzibaris still lack capacity development, hence their jobs are given to outsiders that are more qualified. Education and training are necessary.