Palace Museum — where history comes alive Witten by Ali Ahmed Al Riyam in Zanzibar The Sultan’s Palace, known as Beit Al Sahel in Arabic, is one of the main historical buildings of Stone Town, Zanzibar, and although modest in size, being a three-storey building with merlon-decorated white walls, it lacks nothing in grandeur and features a beautiful garden with a backdrop of the Old Fort and Bait Al Ajab (House of Wonders). The Observer was able to visit this legacy to the regal and stately spirit of Zanzibar’s first Sultan and his revered successors. The palace has been converted into a museum, known as the Palace Museum located at Mizingani Road, on the seafront, between the House of Wonders — called so because it was the first building to have electric lighting and a lift, built by Sultan Sayyid Barghash in 1883 as a ceremonial palace — and the ornate Old Dispensary — built by the wealthy Indian Ismaili merchant, Tharia Topan in 1887 as a dispensary for the poor. The palace was originally built by Sayyid Said bin Sultan in 1832 and was rebuilt after its bombardment by the British in 1896, serving as a residence for the Sultan’s family until the Zanzibar Revolution of 1964. It was formally renamed as People’s Palace and used as a government seat. In 1994, it became a museum on the Zanzibari royal family and history. One floor of the museum is dedicated to Sultan Khalifa bin Harub, another one to Sayyida Salme, while the ground floor focuses on the formative years of Zanzibar. As noted at the museum: Zanzibar’s formative years, from 1800- 1856, saw the development of Zanzibar as the metropolis of East Africa in the first half of the 19th century. This period is associated with the rule of Sayyid Said bin Sultan, Ruler of Oman and Zanzibar 1806- 1856. During the period there was enormous growth in the external trade of Zanzibar and in the production of cloves, which was to become the staple crop of Zanzibar. Omani rule over the East African coast began in 1698, after the expulsion of the Portuguese from Fort Jesus in Mombasa and from other Swahili towns. In about 1700 Omanis had built the Old Fort in Zanzibar and the local rulers of Zanzibar, such as Mwini Mku, were retained as governors over their own areas. In 1806 Sayyid Said bin Sultan became the ruler of Oman at the age of 15. Once he was firmly established, he came to Zanzibar in 1828. He encouraged existing trade and encouraged the planting of cloves. He signed a number of treaties with Western powers, with the United States of America in 1833 and the first foreign consulate was opened in 1837. He sent envoys to the United States and certain European capitals in 1840. At the same time he consolidated the entire trade of East Africa in Zanzibar and foreign merchants were encouraged to come and trade with Zanzibar, which emerged as the regional trade entry and exit point. In 1840 he transferred his capital to Zanzibar and spent most of the rest of his life there. He died in 1856 at sea off the coast of Seychelles on his way back from Oman and was later buried in Zanzibar. In the succession dispute that followed, Zanzibar was separated from Oman and in 1862 the two became independent Sultanates under the rulership of the sons of Sayyid Said bin Sultan.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 05:48:23 +0000
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