Zanzibar City

Zanzibar City, also known as Mjini District, is one of two districts in the Mjini Magharibi Region of Tanzania. It covers an area of 15.4 km² (5.9 sq mi) and has the Indian Ocean to its west. The city is the largest on the island of Zanzibar, located on the west coast of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago.

The city is made up of two main parts: Stone Town and Ng'ambo. Stone Town is the historic center and was once the capital of the Zanzibar Sultanate. In 2000, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its special buildings and culture. Ng'ambo, meaning "The Other Side," is a larger, modern area with offices and big apartment buildings.

Zanzibar City is served by many airlines through Abeid Amani Karume International Airport. In 2022, the city's population was 219,007.

History

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Zanzibar City.

Zanzibar City has a rich history. In 1592, the first English ship arrived in the port. In 1824, Said bin Sultan, Sultan of Muscat and Oman, made the city the capital of his kingdom. Sadly, the city was once a major center for the trade of enslaved people. In 1846, many people were enslaved on the island. Later, in 1866, the famous explorer David Livingstone visited Zanzibar to prepare for his final journey. In 1892, Zanzibar became a free port, meaning goods could be traded without heavy taxes.

Climate

Zanzibar City has a tropical climate, much like the whole island of Unguja, and it is a bit warmer than Pemba. This climate is called a tropical monsoon climate, with the code Am in the Köppen climate classification. The average temperature in Zanzibar City is about 26.9 °C (80.4 °F). Each year, the city gets around 1,512 mm (59.5 in) of rain.

The temperature usually stays between 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) and 28.8 °C (83.8 °F) each month. There are two rainy periods: the bigger one from March to May and a smaller one from November to December. The driest months are January and February, and there is a longer dry season from June to October.

Places of worship

The city has many places where people gather to worship, mostly Muslim mosques. There are also several Christian churches and temples, including the Roman Catholic Diocese of Zanzibar, Anglican Church of Tanzania, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Baptist Convention of Tanzania, and Assemblies of God.

Constituencies

Tanzania is divided into areas called constituencies for elections. In 2010, Zanzibar City District had ten of these areas. They are:

• Amani Constituency
• Chumbuni Constituency
• Jangombe Constituency
• Kikwajuni Constituency
• Kwahani Constituency
• Kwamtipura Constituency
• Magomeni Constituency
• Mji Mkongwe Constituency
• Mpendae Constituency
• Rahaleo Constituency

Wards

Zanzibar City, also called Mjini District, is divided into smaller parts called wards. In the Zanzibar Urban District, there are 45 of these wards. In 2012, the Mjini District itself had 20 wards.

Demographics

Zanzibar City has a rich history with many people from different backgrounds. Old photographs show people from different times, like a Zanzibari man in 1905 and children of the Sultan of Zanzibar protected by guards in 1884. There are also images of Swahili women and men from the early 20th century.