𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚆𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚂𝚕𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝙴𝙰

Changuu Island's role in the slave trade is a somber chapter in its history, reflecting Zanzibar's central position as a major hub for the East African slave trade.
Here's how Changuu Island was significant in this context:
* Holding Facility for Rebellious Slaves: In the mid-1860s, the first Sultan of Zanzibar, Majid bin Said, sold Changuu Island to Arab slave traders. These traders used the island as a holding space for rebellious or "refractory" slaves. The isolation of the island was intended to break their will and prevent escapes before they were transported to various markets, including the notorious slave market in Stone Town, or shipped to the Arabian Peninsula and other Indian Ocean islands.
* Part of a Larger Network: Changuu Island was one piece of a vast and brutal network of slave routes that extended from the African mainland (often starting in places like Bagamoyo) to Zanzibar and beyond. Slaves endured horrific conditions during capture, forced marches, and crammed journeys by dhow (traditional sailing vessel) to Zanzibar.
* Symbol of a Dark Past: While the island later gained its "Prison Island" moniker from the British who intended to build a prison there (though it was mostly used as a quarantine station), its earlier association with the slave trade is a significant part of its dark past. Visiting the island today offers a poignant reminder of this history, especially when considering the context of the larger slave trade memorials and museums in Stone Town.
The abolition of the slave trade in Zanzibar, largely due to British pressure, marked a turning point for the island, leading to its subsequent use as a quarantine station and ultimately, its transformation into the tourist destination it is today.