I’m sitting with tour guide Salum outside his grandmother’s house where he was born. We’re watching the sunset after I’ve spent a long day of celebrating the Zanzibari new year, Mwaka Kogwa in Makunduchi. The humidity of the tropics is stifling, but it’s nothing compared to the warmth of the people here. Salum invites me to join him on a log outside, and I accept.
Your brother, Ebrahim, tells me you are a tour guide in Jambiani.
Yes, I am. I became a tour guide because I am fluent in both French and English. After attending a language school in Stone Town, I learned how to speak French fluently. I also tried to learn German, but unfortunately lacked a teacher. In a few years, I hope to be known for the village tours I give. When I started out, there was only one person giving me business. Now, however, so many people contact me for tours. I work with hotels, but anyone can contact me for a tour of the village.
What do you include in your village tour?
There are a variety of different programs on offer here in the village. We start with a bit of history about the village, then take our guests on an exploration tour of the tools and equipment we use. Tourists also get to visit the children at the various schools in the area, including the nursery school. After that, we explore how traditional medicine is used before visiting the seaweed farm. Guests always love seeing how we make rope using coconut leaves or how we weave the leaves to build fences or huts. The women in the village also demonstrate how they make coconut milk for cooking. A tour usually takes up to three hours. We also offer cooking classes in our home, where tourists can learn to make local foods like rice, chapati, and mchicha (spinach) which is served with chicken or fish soup.
What do you love about being a tour guide?
I enjoy giving village tours because it’s my home. I was born and raised here, so it holds a special place in my heart. When I first started, I was in secondary school and Mr. Rama became my mentor. I love meeting people from all over the world and showing them my village. I also teach at the Muslim school, the Madrassa, so I have to balance my time between that and giving tours.
We’re so lucky to live in this beautiful village. I got married in January this year, and it’s been wonderful being surrounded by our families. When I lived in Stone Town, it was very different. Here, if you need help with something, it’s easy to find someone to help you. And being here allows me to pursue my other passion: farming. I also enjoy teaching French and English to other people in the village.