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Celebrate Christmas and New Year's at Africa House. More... [x]

Christmas Eve

Share the spirit of the season and join Saint Joseph's Catholic Church Choir for a Sunset Christmas Carol sing-along as Emmanuel Kazumba leads you through a jamboree of carols.

The party starts at 8pm! Rock around the Christmas Tree with Santa's Karaoke Party and lots of sparkling good cheer.

Christmas Day Chill Out

Join us at the Sunset Bar for lazy day Christmas cocktails and Sizzling Sunset Bar-B-Q. Savour a variety of fresh local seafood & quality meats marinated with our Chef's own secret recipe & char-grilled to perfection.

New Year's Eve

Indulge in the exotic flavours of our specially prepared New Year's Eve menu for an evening of fine dining in Tradewinds Restaurant. The diet starts in January so this is your last chance to indulge one last time!

The clock is ticking for an unforgettable New Year's celebration with Big Music from Big Joe entertaining all the party revellers with the best sounds this side of the Equator.

Countdown to 2014 in style in the Sunset Bar. The place to be and be seen!

The former Slave Market

The former Slave Market is located on the eastern side of Stone Town, within short walking distance of the main market. Today, the Anglican Cathedral and St. Monica's Hostel stand on the location of this historical site.

During the reign of the Omani Arabs in the early 19th century, Zanzibar was the main slave trading point of East Africa. Slaves bought and caught on the mainland were shipped to Zanzibar, where they were re-sold and further transported to Seychelles, Mauritius, Oman and Persia. In those days, the slave market of Stone Town was easily accessible by sea, as the artificial extension of land had not occurred yet. 15 chambers under the earth were used for storing the slaves. The chambers had low ceilings and tiny windows. Sea water running through the damp rooms functioned as toilets. The slaves were chained on the bare stone, separated in male and female compartments. Many did not survive the cramped living conditions due to exhaustion and sickness.

To fetch a higher price, the slaves were often cleaned before taken to the market in the late afternoon. Men and boys had their skins oiled and females were dressed in nice cloth, sometimes even adorned with necklaces and bracelets. Lined up from the smallest to the tallest they had to walk through the market, whilst their owner announced their price. Prospected buyers had the possibility to inspect physique, mouth, teeth and eyes of the slaves. A large tree was used as a whipping post to show the strength of the slaves. Those who did not cry fetched a higher price. The whip used was often the tail of a stingray. After being sold to the highest bidder, slaves were brought to the plantations or houses of their new owners on Zanzibar or shipped to other destinations.

Following the closure of the Slave Market by Sultan Barghash in 1873, missionaries bought the site and built the Anglican Cathedral (Cathedral Church of Christ) on this location and freed slaves helped with its construction under the guidance of Bishop Edward Steere. The altar of the cathedral stands on the spot of the whipping tree. A window is dedicated to Dr. David Livingstone, the initiator of the abolition of slavery. The church's crucifix is made from the wood of a tree in Zambia, under which the heart of Livingstone is buried. Behind the cathedral there is a stone sculpture of five slaves in a pit, tied with original iron shackles and chains.

Today only two of the 15 chambers are accessible. They are located under the St. Monica's Hostel, which was built in 1890 above the slave chambers. The house was used to accommodate teachers, nurses and nuns working at the Universities' Mission to Central Africa and in the missionary hospital in the extension of the building. The house now offers hostel accommodation and a restaurant as well as a gallery with a crafts shop.

The entrance fee including a guide to the former Slave Market, St. Monica's Hostel and the Anglican Cathedral is USD 3 per person.

AFRICA HOUSE HOTEL, STONE TOWN, ZANZIBAR ISLAND
P.O. Box 3246, Shangani, Stone Town, Zanzibar
Tel.: +255 (0)774 43 23 40 or +255 (0)777 212621
Email: / Skype: africahousehotel