Tumbatu is the third largest island of Zanzibar, located north-west, less than two kilometers off the main island Unguja. Yet it is rarely visited by tourists and even residents of Unguja need an introduction to be allowed on the island.
The history of the island is uncertain, but there are ruins from the 11th century. It was on this island that the first ships from Persia have docked.
The history of the island is uncertain, but there are ruins from the 11th century. It was on this island that the first ships from Persia have docked.
All this we wouldn't know, if we didn't fall upon these leads of beautiful tumbled glass beads. In every shop in Stone Town, you can buy them, always the same color but different every time.
The story tells us that the people of Tumbatu find these beads on the northern beaches. For centuries thes beads wash ashore and are worn by the ocean waves. It seems an incredible story, but the quest of Hamad to get the leads directly from the island for us, yet strengthened us in our faith. There are two versions: in the first a large vessel full of beads was destroyed in front of the Zanzibar coast. In the other version, many centuries ago the beads were used as means of payment. In a tsunami the warehouse of the beads (the National Bank of Tumbatu...) was dragged into the sea.
The story tells us that the people of Tumbatu find these beads on the northern beaches. For centuries thes beads wash ashore and are worn by the ocean waves. It seems an incredible story, but the quest of Hamad to get the leads directly from the island for us, yet strengthened us in our faith. There are two versions: in the first a large vessel full of beads was destroyed in front of the Zanzibar coast. In the other version, many centuries ago the beads were used as means of payment. In a tsunami the warehouse of the beads (the National Bank of Tumbatu...) was dragged into the sea.