Heritage Management in Zanzibar

Mariam Mansab, Director of Zanzibar’s Museum and Antiquities, in conversation with Dr. Akinbowale Akintayo, University of York, Department of Archaeology

During a visit to Zanzibar, Dr Akinbowale Akintayo, MAEASaM University of York Postdoctoral Research Associate, met with Mariam Mansab, Zanzibar’s Director of Museums and Antiquities, who gave her perspective on heritage management in the island. Ms Mansab has been in the department for ten months and was appointed to her role by the President of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar.

AA. Which heritage site in Zanzibar stands out for you?

MM. I would say Kuumbi Cave in the Unjuga region. I haven’t visited all 86 of the gazetted sites of Zanzibar but the Kuumbi Cave is the most interesting among those that I have seen so far. I find it compelling because of how it looks and because of its history. It provides early evidence of links between Zanzibar and the Tanzanian mainland. It’s also a naturally beautiful place to visit. The other interesting aspect of Kuumbi Cave is how it was discovered. The story tells of two lovers who were looking for a place to sit and talk. They threw a stone and heard the sound when it hit water that was in the cave at the time. They then went back and told the village about what they had found. A very romantic discovery!

AA. What would you say are the conservation challenges for sites in Zanzibar?

MM. There are many challenges. We can see the deterioration of our larger heritage sites, most of which are being encroached by farming and urbanisation. We haven’t linked ourselves very well with the community and this is an important step because Zanzibar’s heritage is part of our shared identity. If we do not protect and preserve it, we will have nothing to show for it. We need to get the community involved as well as increased support by government to prevent the dilapidation of heritage sites.

AA. What do you see as some of the practical steps towards addressing these challenges?

MM. I believe that projects like MAEASaM can make a difference. The training that has been provided has been helpful as it lends itself to better understanding of heritage sites on the island and to collect the data to help monitor them. It’s imperative to understand the needs of these sites and having a database will help us to know what is going on with them. We have never had this kind of project in Zanzibar before, especially in this Department. We are very pleased that this training has happened, and we want it to be sustainable and continue with it.

AA. Which types of threats are facing heritage sites?

MM. We have two sites that are under severe threat from sea level rise and soil erosion linked to climate change. The Chuini Palace is at serious risk, and the concern is that we are going to lose it completely. The site Ras Mkumbuu in Pemba has already lost part of its building. I fear that we will lose this built heritage in no time if we don’t do anything about it now.

AA. In your opinion, where do you see the most pressing need for the monitoring of sites in Zanzibar?

MM. Monitoring is vital as most of the sites are facing increasing threats. But to do this, we need to install barriers around all our sites, otherwise it is very difficult. Most of the built heritage are deteriorating, and we are trying to keep them in proper shape. I’m dealing right now with farming and urbanisation. We could lose the two sites I mentioned in the next five years. I’m working with the government and trying to find support and funding to be able to implement a barrier around these historical sites.

The other issue is that we don’t have site management plans. That is my next mission: a five-to-ten-year plan to help us control and monitor these sites.

AA. What do you see as the value of ‘going digital’?

MM. In Zanzibar, our records are on paper, and we do not have the special storage capacity to protect such records from damage and possible loss. If these records are lost, future generations will never know our cultural legacy. But having computers is not enough. We have problems with electricity, plus we need good servers and cloud storage as well as experts to maintain digital infrastructures. We can’t rely on having information in a database that is safe somewhere else, as it becomes pointless. Without all these in place, digital information becomes just as much at risk as our paper records.

Training is also very important so that there are people who understand and can do what is necessary. We need sustainable cloud servers. They aren’t cheap and we are all looking for funds. We need something that can be used across Africa.