The Matlai Journal
Culture
Zanzibar is a place where Swahili, Arab, Indian and African influences have met for centuries, and the island's culture shows in its food, its music, its architecture and its daily rhythm. The stories in this category look at those traditions from the southeast coast, where Matlai sits at Michamvi Pingwe, and explain what a visitor can learn, respect and enjoy. Start with any story below, then use the Zanzibar travel guide to fit what you read into your own trip.
9 stories in this category — browse all 27 posts, or start with the Zanzibar travel guide.
Sauti za Busara: Zanzibar's Annual Music Festival
What Sauti za Busara is, how it has changed over the years, and how to combine an evening at the festival in Stone Town with a quiet stay…
Ramadan and Eid in Zanzibar: Faith, Community and a Stay at Matlai
How Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr shape daily life in Zanzibar — the fast, iftar, Taraweeh prayers and Stone Town's night markets — and what a…
Christmas and New Year in Zanzibar
How Christmas and New Year are celebrated across Zanzibar, and what the holidays actually look like at Boutique Hotel Matlai.
Public Holidays in Zanzibar
Public holidays are an important part of a country's history. The public holidays in Zanzibar and Tanzania do not differ. This also means…
Discovering Zanzibar: Unique Souvenirs to Bring Home
An honest shopping guide to Zanzibar's best souvenirs — carved wood, kangas and kitenges, spice blends, vikapu baskets, Tinga Tinga…
Zanzibar: The Spice Island
Where Zanzibar's spices actually came from, the history behind the trade, and a spice-by-spice look at clove, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg…
Exploring Zanzibar's Culinary Traditions: A Journey into Typical Food Habits
What a typical day of eating looks like in Zanzibar — breakfast staples like Ugali, Cassava, Chapati and Vitumbua, street food classics…
Swahili: Not Just a Language
Swahili on Zanzibar carries more history than a simple greeting suggests — from "Jambo Bwana" and Disney's "Hakuna Matata" to Julius…
Celebrating Culture: Festivals and Celebrations in Zanzibar
Zanzibar's cultural calendar: Sauti za Busara in February or March, Mwaka Kogwa's Persian-rooted New Year ritual in July, the Zanzibar…