History and Culture of Zanzibar .
The name Zanzibar refers to the archipelago of Islands in the Indian Ocean of the coast of mainland Tanzania , made up of Unguja the largest Island commonly called Zanzibar , Pemba ,Mafia and other small Islands . Compared to the mainland , Zanzibar can often seem like a different country and that's because up until the unification in 1964 , it was the archipelago and its people have their own unique history and culture , influenced strongly by the traders and invaders over the centuries from the Portuguese and Omani Arabs to the English.
Unlike the main land Zanzibar does not have tribes . Instead local traditions are a fusion of local ethnic groups that settled on the island .Resulting on events like Pemba bull fights from the Portugues and Mwaka Kogwa, the celebration of the Persian New Year .In resent years Zanzibar has gained internationally fame as a world heritage cultural Centre hosting the Sauti Za Busara Music festival and the Zanzibar international film festival , showing how the island has succeeded in celebrating there heritage while moving towards the future.
