ZANZIBAR NI KWETU

Friday, July 17, 2026

There was a time when Zanzibar was known not only as a great centre of trade, culture and civilization, but also as an important centre of learning along the East African coast.

Its Qur’anic schools, madrasas and other educational institutions attracted students and scholars from beyond the shores of the islands. Zanzibar played an influential role in spreading knowledge, language, religion and intellectual thought throughout the coastal regions of East Africa.

For many years, however, Zanzibar appeared to lose some of the educational prominence that had distinguished it in earlier generations. The islands possessed a proud intellectual heritage, yet they were no longer occupying the position in modern higher education that their history and potential deserved.

Today, however, Zanzibar appears to be awakening from that long educational slumber.