URST

This course uses Zanzibar as a laboratory for understanding Swahili Coast urbanism. For millennia, cities along East Africa’s coast have linked Africa with trade networks across the world, from China to Connecticut. Zanzibar was central to these networks for centuries. After independence in December 1963, and a socialist revolution in January 1964, Zanzibar became a semi-sovereign part of Tanzania. From less than 50,000 people in 1964, it has now grown to a metropolitan area of more than 600,000. Zanzibar’s society and culture are very cosmopolitan, with diverse influences, notably in the city’s architecture and built environment. Zanzibar is thus a spectacular place in which to explore the challenges of balancing historic preservation and urban development in architecture and urban planning.