Discover Mbweni

Mbweni’s history unfolds through several milestones: the acquisition of land for missionary work, the founding of a settlement, and the story of a school. Mbweni is also associated with two tourist attractions: Mbweni Ruins and botanical gardens. If you plan to visit these places, check access arrangements in advance.

History of Mbweni

On 8 September 1870, Bishop Tozer, who was Bishop of Zanzibar from 1863 to 1873, bought a plot of about 30 acres in Mbweni for the Universities’ Mission to Central Africa (UMCA). It was intended to expand missionary work in Shangani, Zanzibar Town. In early 1874, a settlement for freed people who had previously been enslaved was established in Mbweni. The two dates mark separate events: the land purchase preceded the founding of the settlement by just over three years.

Mbweni St. Mary’s School grew out of an old Arab house that was renovated and extended to establish a girls’ school for the education of formerly enslaved people. The school opened on 1 September. For a time, it was a convent run by UMCA sisters; it closed in 1920. The school’s history thus encompasses both the conversion of an existing house for educational purposes and its later use by the sisters.

For planning your trip, you can choose from several points of interest: the history of missionary work, the founding of the settlement and the school, or Mbweni Ruins and botanical gardens. If you’re looking for a hotel in Mbweni, these themes can help you narrow down the focus of your stay.

Zanzibar Urban/West: Stone Town’s Townscape

In the wider destination of Zanzibar Urban/West, Stone Town is a Swahili coastal trading town and a well-known tourist area in Zanzibar’s Urban West Region. Its historic townscape comprises narrow, winding streets, clusters of low-rise buildings, and large mansions on the seafront. Together with open spaces, these elements form an urban settlement that reflects the long-standing trade between the African and Asian coasts.

The construction methods also shape Stone Town’s architectural character: the buildings are made mainly of coral limestone and mangrove wood. The wood is set in thick lime mortar; the houses were then plastered and whitewashed. The architecture and town planning reflect Swahili, Indian, Arab, and European influences. In the two-storey houses, long, narrow rooms are arranged around open courtyards, with narrow corridors leading to them. Elaborately carved double “Zanzibar” doors are a defining feature of the exterior facades.

Important Stone Town buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries include the Old Fort, the House of Wonders, the Old Dispensary, St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, and Christ Church Anglican Cathedral. Others include Tippu Tip’s residence, Malindi Bamnara Mosque, Jamat Khan, the Royal Cemetery, and Hamamni and other Persian baths. The House of Wonders was built as a grand ceremonial palace for Sultan Barghash; Jamat Khan was built for the Ismaili community. Christ Church Anglican Cathedral commemorates David Livingstone’s work to abolish the slave trade and stands on the site of the last slave market.

Discover more destinations: Fumba, Selem, Grave Island, Zanzibar City, Bububu

Return to the main travel overview: Zanzibar Urban/West.