Zanzibari attire and etiquette

Zanzibar fascinates its people and foreigners from many countries for its rich history, white beaches, spices, fruits, charm, traditions, culture, customs, generosity, and kindness of its colorful cosmopolitan society for many years. Its people have always been proud of their religion, customs, morals, and social values and their rich tradition of hospitality to guests. There is no argument that their way of life in many countries, even insulated islands, has drastically changed over the years, and no one can stop the wind of change on different issues.

But despite the wave of modernization, the people of Zanzibar look determined now, as well as later, to continue to preserve their rich history, which is like their second skin, because they consider them very important to their identity. But as Muslims are the majority in these islands, about 1.7 million people, it is not surprising to see their lifestyle ad behavior follow the rules and guidelines stipulated in the Quran, as much as they can commit themselves. There is a strong feeling that if they allow their customs and traditions to be part of their history, they will in future have little to be proud of as part of their identities and nothing to pass to their children and grandchildren.

This may result in a drop in the number of tourists who visit here because visitors usually like their hosts in their real lives and living cultures. For three decades, tourism has been an essential source of income for Zanzibar. Still, the government and the people of this Indian Ocean archipelago have made it clear that they won't compromise their religious teachings, customs, traditions, hospitality, morals, and social values for foreign exchange. Nor should they!! To enable tourists to enjoy their stay in Zanzibar, the government has issued a dress code and tips on what to do and what not to do to enjoy their stay on the islands. The code is available to all those dealing with the tourist industry.

Zanzibar has struggled to issue helpful information and educate tourists to respect the local culture in general, as visitors should do what their hosts wish them to so that each side is happy. Tourists can wear skimpy attire along the beach or the hotel compounds, but as soon as one leaves the beach or the hotel ad sets foot in the street in town or a village, they must put the cloth on. Local Zanzibaris are more concerned with women's attire and expect them to at least cover themselves not to reveal anything above the thigh or open the back of the breasts, as much freedom as the tourists are used to enjoying in their countries of origin. Transparent apparel is not welcomed. Trousers are acceptable for both genders, but shorts and shirt skirts are offensive to many, and visitors are advised to refrain from wearing them in public.

Dress codes for men are more lax, though extreme sorts are not familiar unless in a sports environment. Men can go bare chest without offending many, button totally shirtless, and any short should not be too short or revealing the wearer's upper body shape, such as being too skimpy, when in the village of the streets. It is recommended that women should put on change ( also called less) or kitenge- colorfully printed wraps that local women use as skirts, head wraps, and baby slings. Local women are always helpful to tourists in tying them correctly. Sometime back, several women who came to Zanzibar for a holiday and refused at the airport to buy change or kiting to cover themselves appropriately were not allowed entry and were ordered to go by the next available flight.

In Zanzibar, elders are cherished and greeted respectfully, and it is considered a show of deep respect the one greets an elder he/she bows. The culture here is that the younger greets an older person when they greet a person who says Sikamoo, and the elder returns with Marhaba. The most common greeting is Assalam Alaykum and the response with being Alaykum Salam. In Zanzibar, anything is given out with a right hand and accepted in the same way, and the response that works both ways will be Ahsante for Thank you. The other word that a tourist will keep hearing from people they hardly know is Karibu, for You are welcome almost everywhere.

With Zanzibaris, physical contact like a hug is not an automatic gesture unless indicated so - between a man and a women, is avoidable in public. A visitor is advised to shake hands only after the other person extends his hand first.

In public, kissing and caressing or affectionate action should be resisted as much as possible. Slaughtering of any animal, as visitors should be aware, is done in an Islamic way, and the availability of any pork meat or bacon that is not served at local restaurants is strictly prohibited under Islam. Just like locals, visitors should show respect to religious buildings, shrines, and people at prayer. When entering a mosque or a temple after being permitted, one is supposed to remove shoes and leave them at the door.

The people of Zanzibar have their traditional attire, but unlike in the past, there have been changes, with many men preferring to wear a trouser and a shirt from the kanas ( a long white rob reaching the ankle) and a kaffiyeh and or sarong. The kaffiyeh is a hand-made job and has perforated holes made into designs. The Kanzu should be worn with sandals. Women use different kinds and styles of dresses which are shaped in public because they cover them by wearing a head to ankle covering material, now available in different styles and colors are known here as buibui. With buibui everyone looks amazingly beautiful.

A visitor who uses the local attires will be most welcomed by the old and the young and easy to be accepted by society, as well as to make friends or at least if she puts a head scarf on. Islam women's hair should not be publicly exposed. Another famous attire that has deep cultural roots on the Island is walking with a cane, a straight rod, or a stick, especially among elders. For some, this is used to provide stability in walking, but for others, it is a traditional symbol of strength and power, authority, and social prestige. But this culture is fading out. As much as women like their jewelry in gold and silver, the Zanzibari women are always ready to share henna paintings with visitors. Now parlors offering such services are found both in Stone Town and along the beaches in hotel settings.

A fading culture in Zanzibar is that of a man going around with a multi-colored local-made basket, popularly known as mkoba was Kili kept by hand for picking supplies. Now only the old school will be caring. All in all, the attire and etiquette of the people of Zanzibar which have deployed roots in their culture, and traditions, apart from the importance for visitors to show respect.

Dress modestly

By Salim Said Salim