Malindi Port VII (Tanzania, Zanzibar)

At the port of Malindi, traditional dhows—Arab-inspired wooden sailing ships—coexist alongside modern vessels in a maritime interweaving that dates back to the 9th century. These dhows have long carried trade between the Swahili coast, Arabia, India, and Persia, transporting cloves, ivory, fabrics, and slaves. Even today, they are built by hand, without plans, following gestures passed down orally.

Zanzibar remains a hub for artisanal fishing, dominated by purse seine nets, tidal fishing techniques, and direct sales. The port is transforming into a multifunctional space: an unloading area, a ship repair facility, an informal market, and sometimes even a floating dormitory. These boats reflect an economy that is both resilient and informal, capable of adapting to climatic constraints and global prices.

The port of Malindi also concentrates invisible issues: the scarcity of fish due to industrial overfishing, the precariousness of seasonal fishermen, and tensions between commercial uses and heritage practices.