School after school (Tanzania, Zanzibar)

In the archipelago, many children attend a dual school system: public school during the day and then a madrasa in the late afternoon. This second school, organized by the local Muslim community, teaches reading and recitation of the Quran in Swahili and Arabic. Wooden slates, often covered with a thin layer of clay to easily erase the writing, are still used in some villages—a continuation of centuries-old teaching methods on the Swahili coast. Nearly 99% of Zanzibar's population is Sunni Muslim of the Shafi'i rite: a religious homogeneity that is reflected in daily life, from the call of the muezzin to collective celebrations. The wearing of the veil by young girls is not imposed by law, but encouraged by families as a mark of respect and religious affiliation. Each color reflects less a strict codification than an individual or family preference: orange and green recall the country's flags, black remains associated with modesty, while yellow and pink are prized for their cheerfulness. This plurality of hues transforms the classroom into a living mosaic, where religious education blends with identity affirmation. This photograph was selected by the international and prestigious art gallery 1x.