Zanzibar Uhuru: revolution, two women and the challenge of survival

by Anne M. Chappel

It is 1964, a month after independence celebrations in the spice islands of Zanzibar, off the east coast of Africa. A brutal uprising takes place apparently led by a shadowy figure, John Okello. In the capital, Stone Town, a British official, Mark Hamilton, struggles to help the Sultan’s government survive while protecting his young family.
In the countryside, Ahmed al-Ibrahim, a Zanzibari Arab father, faces annihilation and a terrible decision. Fatima is his twelve-year-old daughter, and her life is changed forever by the violence that now sweeps across the islands. Fatima’s survival through this chaos and the thirty years of rule by despotic Presidents takes all her courage and the kindness of other families.
Elizabeth, Mark Hamilton’s young daughter, also remembers the day of the Revolution and their escape across the seas. Her story too is touched by tragedy.
Fatima and Elizabeth are connected in a way that takes almost fifty years to be revealed. Elizabeth will return to Zanzibar to fulfil her father’s final request. The life journeys of the two women are different. The common link is the day of the Revolution and the act of a desperate man.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Tanzania, Africa

327 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 16, 2014

Reviews

[Tim Metelerkamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

The history of Africa in the latter half of the 20th century is a story of change from Imperialist rule to freedom. Often bloody and violent, it was one step forward and two backward. Zanzibar, with its rich history, was no exception.
Anne Chappel does a magnificent job of bringing historic facts alive through the experiences of her characters. The beautifully written story keeps readers enthralled from start to finish. Intimate stories of the lives of two female characters are woven into an epic tale. The sights, smells and sounds of Stone Town are vividly described and exactly the way I remember them.
Insight into the peaceful side of Islam is thought provoking and timely, given current events. A picture of harmonious family life embodying values of respect, kindness, compassion and honesty is portrayed.
Thoroughly enjoyable and a must read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps the 1964 coup orchestrated in Zanzibar is not known to many as much as the history on the Arab slave trade on the island. It certainly sent chills down my spine to find out about the genocide of the Arabs and the opposition parties on the island committed in the name of local people. Atrocities after atrocities hit the island, unwarranted violence and death in the thousands. This book weaves a narrative of hope in the midst of such violence, recounting the stories of two families hit by the decimation and madness, one white British, and one black Arab. The two families' future generations meet after decades of exile and unanswered questions to retrace their fathers' last steps and decisions before the flight to their safety or to their death. A glimmer of hope shines at the end of the tale. A good read.

[SALIM Dahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another deep and touching story from the deliberately forgotten genocide in Zanzibar. The Arabs who are not wanted by the Africans and the same "Arabs" who are considered Africans by their Arab brothers in the Gulf. The good times pre-revolution and the power of hope that endures, assisted by love and patience.

[Sabby Mugassa Bingman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am from Mainland Tanzania, and born years after the union. I will say after reading this book, I thought I knew the history of Zanzibar but I don't. The book opened my eyes, and it is sad story.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating fictional story, which provided an account of the Zanzibari Revolution in 1964. A thoroughly engaging and educational read!

[David Butters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to this book by a friend who knew my interest in Zanzibar and its history. The recommendation came with a caveat: 'it is sad but accurate'.
The story covers the bloody 1964 revolution in Zanzibar and the ensuing 40 years. The events are mainly seen through the eyes of two women: one, a Zanzibari Arab, Fatima, who is twelve when the revolution breaks out; the other, a British ex-pat., Elizabeth who at that time is nearly fourteen. Elizabeth and her family escape from the island on the night of the revolt and her story is mainly concerned with her return to Zanzibar in 2012, and occupies the last third of the book.
The first third describes the revolution itself and the chaos that spread over the island in the weeks following. The second third deals with Fatima and the impact the revolution had on her and her family. The stories of Elizabeth and Fatima eventually become cleverly intertwined.
The work is very well researched, intricate in detail and beautifully told. Yes, my friend was correct in her warning; it is sad, very sad in places, and the tone is often dark. But it is never morbid and hope always shines through. The ending is beautiful and in some ways quite unexpected.
Quite frankly this is a terrific read and is a book I know I will revisit. Highly Recommended.

[Anne Chappel · Rating 5 out of 5]

from Abdulrazak Fazal in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

Anne takes us back to those Zanzibar days.
As a Zanzibari of Indian descent and having experienced the Zanzibar Revolution myself the novel gripped me from start to finish. That fateful day of 12th January, 1964 was a Sunday, the last prior to the commencement of the holy Muslim month of Ramadhan and customarily ‘vunjajungu’, the scheduled event for picnicking . We were all set to go to Chwaka, a beach resort 20 miles away from the stone town, when my brother who had gone out came rushing back saying that there was some disturbance. The radio was switched on and tuned in to the BBC. The news of the Revolution in Zanzibar made the headline. We were aghast. Suddenly gloom spread around and the town became dead silent, only the sound of gun shots could be heard at intervals. The battle raged throughout the day. The distinct sound of gunshots dominated the still of the night and stirred eerie sensation. The happenings of that day and the days that followed, and those of the curfew imposed nights will be etched on my mind forever.
Anne’s novel depicts exactly that event. Elizabeth’s father Mark Hamilton boarded the ‘Salama’ to accompany the Sultan and she along with her mother and sister fled to Tanga in a boat. The plot unfolds as Anne captures the tiny island of Zanzibar off the East coast of Africa in its state of anarchy. The story is endowed with facts. Those who had experienced the Zanzibar Revolution will vouch for the little details – the killings of Aminabai’s children, the despairing days spent at Rahaleo by the Asian residents of the suburban area of Ngambu, the massacre of the devotees in the mosque, the forceful marriage of the Persian girls, the destruction of cemeteries and other atrocities meted out to the islanders.

Zanzibar was a paradise and its people the humblest, their etiquette and pious nature were truly extraordinary. This is amply evidenced by Anne’s portrayal of Fatima, Paka and their families. What is striking is Elizabeth’s immense love for Zanzibar. So is her father’s, Mark Hamilton. His dedication to his duties and deep loyalty to the previous government are clearly manifested in this saga. This emanating from people of colonial origin is just remarkable.
A tinge of sadness is felt reading about Mark Hamilton’s sojourn in his last days. The once prominent figure in Zanzibar awaiting his end in the Residential Home in the remote UK. So sad and the irony of life! And then on a gloomy, drizzly, misty, dark, wintry evening Elizabeth walking away in the Liverpool meadows holding tightly against her body the Zanzibar picture that her dad had presented to her. A real touching moment!

Also a befitting epilogue informing of Elizabeth funding a school in Zanzibar, and that further corroborates her affection for Zanzibar. Well done Anne! The book is a must read, especially for the Zanzibaris.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zanzibar was the land of my ancestors- until the revolution happened. I was looking for a book that would tell the history as it is, without being too factual and boring and this was it.

While the story of Fatima and Elizabeth were fictional, the history was real. I could visualize the streets of Zanzibar as the author told it, connecting it with the stories I have heard from my grandparents of fleeing the island they once knew as home.

I initially thought the book was a bit too long and when I started the section of Elizabeth- I wondered if the author should have left it at Fatima’s story. However, with every turning page, this gripped me making me want to read even more.

Would highly highly recommend reading if you want to know more about the Zanzibar revolution and read a story of grief, loss and love.

[T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives insights into the 1964 Zanzibar Revolution and its effects on various people who were present. Its especially worthwhile for anyone going to Zanzibar who wants to reconcile the propaganda about the events, with the actual events.

[Tuan Marais · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done Anne! - what a coincidence - would like to order a copy - please contact me on tmarais@lantic.net.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in Zanzibar. Not amazing as novel but really interesting for picture of Zanzibar at relevant time.

[Ruth Hosford · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. I read 100 pages, 50 more than others that I haven’t enjoyed, simply because I hoped I’d warm to the style, which I found jagged and rapid fire. The short chapters were irritating as though the author had written a whole story in short chapters then jumbled it all together. A pity, as I was intrigued to learn about the history of Zanzibar. When I referred to the Goodreads reviews to see what others had thought of the book, there were very few reviews but many ratings of 5 stars. I found that questionable and have never seen it before.

[Rachel Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely fabulous book. Gives you a real insight into what happened during and after the revolution in Zanzibar.