The Anglican Church in Stone Town. Beginning in late 2013, the ZSTHS will have the chance to partner with the World Monument Fund and the Anglican Diocese of Zanzibar on a major culture and heritage project funded by the European Union.
The project will include the restoration and preservation of the ancient Anglican Church of Stone Town, one of Zanzibar's important heritage buildings, training of local fundis in sustainable restoration techniques, training of local tour guides on the history and heritage of Stone Town, and the development of an educational and heritage centre about the slave trade and its abolition in Zanzibar.
We will keep you updated on the project as it develops. Thanks to our great partners at the WMF and Anglican Diocese for making this project happen!
There are eight Government secondary schools located in Stone Town, with a total number of students being between 12,000 and 14,000. Most students are unaware that they are spending their days in a world heritage environment.
The ZSTHS believes that teaching youth about the precious heritage that surrounds them will help pave the way for a more sustainable future for Stone Town.
In partnerships with the Ministry of Education, the ZSTHS has a regular program of school visits. Staff visit local schools to teach students about the unique world heritage of the city, the challenges facing building conservation and the importance of protecting our heritage.
Door Restoration Program
The ZSTHS supports restorations of Zanzibar doors around Stone Town. Please contact us for more information.Beach cleaning (annual) Each year the ZSTHS joins with partners to hold a beach cleaning of a public area. Last year's event took place in November in partnership with the Kiponda Secondary School's environmental club. Over 90 participants came out! Stay tuned for information about this year's beach cleanup.
Zanzibar Conservation Centre – Minor Restorations The Old Customs House building is ongoing minor restorations by the ZSTHS to ensure this building will be preserved for many years.
Studies and research: Challenges and Issues Facing Stone Town's Historical Sites This research project is under development. The goal is to further explore the different challenges and issues that face Stone Town's ancient buildings and determine ways to mitigate these problems.
Studies and research: Stone Town Open Space Identification
A first phase of a study identifying open spaces within Stone Town has been accomplished. The next step will be to study the open spaces and their backgrounds, uses and need for protection and preservation.
In its 10 years of operations, the ZSTHS has been proud to accomplish many projects and activities for Stone Town. Below is a summary of some of these accomplishments.
ZSTHS 10th AnniversaryIn September 2012, the Zanzibar Stone Town Heritage Society celebrated our 10th anniversary! Activities included a special exhibition of photographs and traditional carved wood, renovation workshops, a public meeting, and an award ceremony for best practices in conservation.
Zanzibar Conservation CentreThe ZSTHS was given the mandate to host and develop the Zanzibar Conservation Centre. Commonly known as the Old Customs House, the building is located along the Forodhani seafront on Mizingani Road. It had degraded to a very poor state when in mid-1990 UNESCO initiated a renovation program. In 1998 Aga Khan Cultural Services, Zanzibar, with funding from the Embassy of Sweden/Sida, Dar es Salaam, took on the project. The building was inaugurated in 2001.The Zanzibar Conservation Centre currently offers a public space on the ground floor with a beautiful arts and crafts exhibition and sale. The majority of the space within ZCC is rented by the Zanzibar Dhow Countries Music Academy. More information about this excellent modern Swahili music and dance school is available at www.zanzibarmusic.org.
Restoration of Ahmed Naaman gravesite (November 2011)In November 2011, the ZSTHS was part of a team that restored the tomb of Ahmed Naaman in the Kiponda neighbourhood of Stone Town.
Lectures/Public TalksThe ZSTHS frequently holds educational discussions for the public on issues around heritage and conservation. A few past talks were:
Reclamation of Creek Road (October 2011)Chosen residents of the Mkunanzini and Shangani neighbourhoods were invited to meetings held to educate men and women on how to protect Stone Town. The attendees were informed of the various challenges facing the community and invited to share their knowledge with their neighbourhoods.
UNESCO visit (January 2011)In January 2011, the ZSTHS hosted UNESCO representative Bakonirina Rakotomamonjy, who visited Stone Town to learn about the city and its status as a World Heritage Site.
Media Resource CentreA media resource centre was established by funds from the Embassy of Sweden/Sida and put under the guidance of the ZSTHS. The goal of the centre was to operate on a commercial basis and for a group of young students to be trained on the equipment. During the Centre's operation, the Baraza soap opera was created under a professionally guided training program (see activities, below). Unfortunately, the ZSTHS currently lack the funds to maintain the Media Resource Centre, and it has been closed.
Baraza TV seriesDuring the Community-based Rehabilitation Program run by the Aga Khan Cultural Services, Zanzibar and funded by the Embassy of Sweden/Sida, a video documentation project took place, leading to a series of documentary programs reflecting the life of Stone Town for those living in so-called 'urban villages.' The program, known as the Baraza of Stone Town, became very popular and was shown both on Television Zanzibar and on other Tanzanian channels.
During the Media Resource Centre training program, a soap opera series set in Stone Town was developed by students along with the Jicho Communicative Consultants who were running the program. After a trial of three programs, a proposal was granted by the Embassy of Sweden/Sida for the production of an additional ten episodes, which aired in 2006 on Television Zanzibar.
Zanzibar International Film Festival PresentationsThe Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) is a well-known annual event in Zanzibar. In 2006, ZSTHS presented an entertaining and colourful powerpoint presentation on the meaning of World Heritage and Zanzibar as a World Heritage Site. We also presented a short drama on Princess Salme's life, presented with traditional taraab music, giving a view of the rich and unique history of Zanzibar and Stone Town.
Children's Photographic Competition: Get to Know My Stone TownDuring our partnership with the Swedish Association for Building Preservation (below), a special event for children's awareness was arranged. Twelve groups of four children between the ages of 7-12 were given a disposable camera to document their neighbourhood and surroundings. The cameras were then collected and the films developed. The children received their pictures and were asked to select four pictures for the competition with a description for each picture. The selected pictures were mounted on exhibition panels. Three winning groups were awarded, and each children received a certificate.
Partnership with the Swedish Association for Building Preservation (SBF) The Swedish Association for Building Preservation (Svenska byggnadsvardsforeningen, SBF), arranges seminars, workshops, excursions, restoration camps, and produces a periodical. The partnership between SBF and ZSTHS was proposed by the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency (Sida) in 2003 and signed in 2005. The partnership objectives were:
To share experience on how to perform activitiesWe denounce with righteous indignation and dislike men who are so beguiled and demoralized by the charms of pleasure of the moment, so blinded by desire foresee.
