The Arab Zanzibar State Historical overview

The book discusses the history of the Arab presence in Zanzibar and the role played by the Sultans of the Busaidi family who succeeded each other in ruling it until the bloody coup that occurred in January 1964. The author Norman Bennett followed a methodology based on statistics and narratives documented by many who lived and worked in East Africa, specifically in Zanzibar and Pemba islands, during the reign of the Busaidi sultans and those before them. The author traced the history of Zanzibar and its emergence as a strong state under the Busaidi rule and its prosperity during the era of Sultan Said bin Sultan. The author addressed several controversial issues in Zanzibar's history, including the slave trade and the efforts of Sultan Said bin Sultan and his successors to eradicate this trade from its roots. The author provided a detailed picture of Zanzibar’s economic and financial situation during the sultans’ reign, and also discussed the role of customs and the clove trade in revitalizing Zanzibar’s economy. The author also examined the struggle of major colonial powers in Zanzibar, the reasons behind its loss of independence, and its subsequent placement under British protection, as well as the economic and social conditions surrounding the coup.