Mirror Boat (Tanzania, Zanzibar)

Along the coasts of the Indian Ocean, Swahili maritime culture is undergoing a profound transformation. Alongside wooden dhows with hand-sewn triangular sails, modern fiberglass boats are appearing. Lightweight and motorized, they are appealing for their ease of maintenance and efficiency. But they also mark a gradual shift away from artisanal techniques: no more carving wood with an axe, sewing cotton sails, or passing on caulking techniques or navigation by star.

This white boat, a joyful gathering place for the children of a coastal village, illustrates this transition. While artisanal fishing remains the main activity, the mediums are changing. Learning is now done on materials from industry rather than on boats crafted by the elders.

Between the memory of know-how and the pressure of modernity, Swahili maritime culture is being reshaped. Slowly. Silently. But irreversibly.