Historic Photographers
Zanzibar Sketches
Palatial Zanzibar
Zanzibar mosques
Zanzibar Women
Kanga and Zanzibar
Six Famous Zanzibari
Oman and Zanzibar
Zanzibar Courage
Goa and Zanzibar
Zanzibar Christians
Zanzibar Ships
Lights of Zanzibar
Tumekuja School
Zanzibar Golf
Space Station Zanzibar
A Funeral In Zanzibar
Zanzibar Fire
Zanzibar Revolution
Nine Hour Revolution
Mass Graves
Images of a Revolution
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KiSwahili Pages
Diving Zanzibar
111 Links
Table of Contents
Search My Site
GUESTBOOK

The Historic Photographers of Zanzibar


Near the turn of the last century Stone Townwas a bustling port, atrading center, a supply and communication hub and a true International City. Travelers from many lands passed through Zanzibar and like modern tourists, many wanted to keep a record of the sights they had seen.

Cameras were large and complex in those days, hard to maintain and transport. But Zanzibar was fortunate to have intelligent citizens and business interests with enough foresight and skill to risk importing a number of these new-fangled cameras to the Islands. They were at onceset up to photograph important events, buildings and sometimes local "color" in order to sell pictures to an eager public. We are fortunate that many of these early photos were later made into post cards which survive to this day to give us a glimpse of the past.


Most Zanzibar Photographers worked and lived in Stone Town but some of their best work was done outside the city.

Zanzibar photographers knew the advantage of perspective and used it to compose some wonderful images.

Both work and play were documented by these pioneer artists.



Stone Town grew to support at least five photographic firms;

  • The Coutinho Bros. who also operated under the name J. B. Coutinho, photographer, Zanzibar.

To see examples of this Photographer's workclick on this link:

Coutinho Photo Gallery


  • The firm of A.C. Gomes and Son.

To see examples of this Photographer's workclick on this link:

A. C. Gomes Gallery

To see a magnificent early Panoramic Photo taken by Gomes in 1902 click on this thumbnail:



  • Pereira de Lord and his brothers, their work often labeled "Photo Artists, Zanzibar."

To see examples of this Photographer's workclick on this link:

A. P. deLord Gallery


  • Karim Essa Allibhai


  • Ali Pira Harji

To see examples of this Photographer's workclick on this link:

Harji Photo Gallery


  • Ranchod T. Oza.

To see examples of Mr. Oza's work click on this link:

Capital Art Studio



At the site of one of these old shops, even today, there exists a tattered, circular, rooftop photo of Stone Town, said to have been taken from the "Camera Obscura" room once set up by early photographers in the tower of the House of Wonders.

There are many more examples of the work of these great early Zanzibari photographic pioneers in the Zanzibar Archives. The archive building is located just south of Stone Town, near the Prison. The archives, many of which are in English, are open to respectful and careful examination with the assistance of the trained staff. Leave a donation if you visit.


Collected and Edited by: Torrence Royer

Barghash@msn.com

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