Globalization

1. GLOBALIZATION AND SURVIVE OF ZANZIBAR STONE TOWN CULTURAL
HERITAGE.
Introduction.
There is no community that is living on its own without interaction. The process of
interaction is not a bad thing or unusual thing. But, the bad thing is the domination of one culture
over another. As it said by (Royce, 1983) that Zanzibar is one of the cosmopolitan centers along
the entire east coast of Africa. Three broad cultural streams have converged in Zanzibar- Islamic,
Hindu and European, and combined with the local African tradition to produce an exotic mixture
of population and culture. The population is largely of African origin drawn from the islands (the
Hadimu, Tumbatu and Pemba peoples) and the adjacent of Swahili people.
The interaction of Zanzibar community goes back for several millennia whereby traders have
been coming in sailing ships carried over the ocean by the monsoon winds. The northeast
monsoon, the kaskazi which blows December to March carrying traders ships from the Arabian
peninsula, Persia and India; the kusi, the Southwest monsoon which blows from June to October
carried them home again ( Royce, 1983).
Definitions of keyterms
Globalization is a process of linking regions or nations of the world which is facilitated by
information, inducing changes in the pre-existing socio-cultural, political, and economic,
structures and systems of nations and people (Uwaezuoka, 2010).
Hence, the globalization may be defined as a process of bring together the compliant nations of
the world under a global village with socio-political and economic-cultural interaction,
integration, diffusion and give and take facilitated by information flow.
With the increasing activities of globalization in Africa and Zanzibar in general. There have
emerged forced acculturation whereby western norms are highly transported across the Zanzibar
community to the extent that the origin identity of Zanzibar community will be ignored of
forgotten by present generation and coming generation. In this sense, there is a need to access the
impact of globalization to Zanzibar’s community whereby it will be easy to identify positive and
negative effects of globalization. Meanwhile, those positive effects will be fostered and those
negative effects will be controlled and prevented to not affect the entire cultural heritage of
Zanzibar’s community which is unique and precious to Zanzibar’s and the rest of world

2. Culture; Is the complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom ,
habits and other capabilities that acquired by man as a member of a certain society ( Taylor,
1871).
Culture is not abstraction; it is a living open totality that evolves by constantly integrating
individual and collective choices that are taken in interaction with other. It expresses itself in
diverse ways without being reducible to work. Culture is the product of a complex inheritance
constantly submitted to scrutiny and the need to adapt a constant conquest to achieve (Jean,
2002).
UNESCO, UNIVERSAL DECLARATION ON CULTURAL DIVERSITY 2001.
Culture takes diverse forms across time and space this diversity is embodied in the uniqueness
and plurality of the identities of the groups and societies making up humankind. As a source of
exchange, innovation and creativity, cultural diversity is necessary for humankind as biodiversity
is for nature.
Cultural diversity widens the range of options open to everyone; it is one of the roots of
development, understood not simply in economic growth, but also as a means to achieve a more
satisfactory intellectual, emotional, moral, spiritual existence. It is common heritage of humanity
and should be recognized and affirmed for the benefit of present and future generation.
Cultural heritage;
May consists of the resources remaining from the past that evidence the passage of man through
history; recognizing these resources, makes it possible to learn about the identity and line of
man’s cultural evolutions (Jokilehto, 1990).
Meanwhile, Cultural heritage may include both physical heritage like historical building and
non physical heritage like oral traditions, practices, represent ions, knowledge and skills,
language, performing arts, rituals and traditional craftsmanship. Cultural heritage is very
important to community identity and cultural diversity.
There are so many opportunities brought by globalization to Zanzibar’s
cultural heritage. The following are some of them;
There is improved understanding of the cultural heritage. Through different seminars
organized by UNESCO, Heritage stakeholders and other international non government
organization like ACRA, WMF and EU. Staff members from different cultural heritage
institutions and organizations are coming together from different nations to discuss and exchange
ideas about heritage conservation and preservation.

3. There is more effective preservation on built heritage. Also, through training provided by
non government organizations like ZSTHS and international non government organization like
ACRA under the sponsorship provided by European Union whereby local fundis have been
trained in conservation of historical building for instance, Zanzibar Built Heritage Job Creation.
Greater accessibility of cultural Heritage to the public .There is easy accessibility of cultural
heritage information through internet; people may learn different information concerning their
cultural heritage on internet. Also, on the social media there are different pages that give
information about Zanzibar Cultural Heritage.
Development of cultural tourism; Now days, there are different companies and tour operator
on cultural tourism industry both at national level and international levels.
But there are some indications of negative effects of globalization to Zanzibar’s community. If
these indications would not be well identified and sorted out will pose a serious threat to
Zanzibar’s cultural heritage which have unique characteristics.
The following are some of those indications of negative effects of
globalization
Changes to the social Interaction. It is not like previously where by communities where living
in respect and cooperation. There are so many factors attributed to the changes of social
interaction in Zanzibar community like different politics ideologies, but globalization play an
important role to these changes starting from family level to the society level. Young generations
are not behaving well to their elders anymore.
Western norms are highly practiced by young generations in Zanzibar. People are
complaining about this habit of sniffing cocaine. Lots of youths are addicted to drugs, tattoo and
homosexual. These activities were not done before. There is need of educating societies especial
young generation about the effects of abandoned their cultural and embarrassing western norms.
Commoditization of culture. Culture is now viewed as a commodity and not like people’s way
of life as it was before. Efforts should be made both government and non government
organization on revitalizing traditional culture as people’s way of life and not like commodity.
Replacement of traditional culture by global culture. This is common to the youth’s
generations whereby many youths have changed their dressing styles like hijab, nikab. Some
girls are wearing transparent hijab which are not of Zanzibar origin. Also, the tradition taarab
have been also replaced.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?

4.  There should be immediate need for the government to revive traditional and
popular forms of expression. Community should be encouraged on practicing their
traditional ways of life and teach their children good deeds.
 Government should develop incorporate programs relating to traditional cultures,
heritage and folklore in education curricular at all levels.
 There should be training in the use of ICT for documentation, digitization and
preservation of cultural heritage.
 Also, there is a need to establish heritage clubs whereby issues of cultural heritage will
be discussed as a means of transmission of oral and intangible heritage.
Hence, there is no culture that is superior to other therefore people must proud
and protect their culture as part of their heritage. Adapting foreign culture is like
killing your own identity and origin. Meanwhile, Zanzibar’s community must have
strategic plan on the protection and preservation of negative effects of globalization to
not destroy the entire community like the use of drugs, homosexual etc.

5. References
Jean, T (2002)Intellectualdialogues and cultural security: September 2005
planat Agora.
J, Jokilehto (1990)ICROM Working Group: Revisedfor CIF 15 January
2005.
Taylor, E (1871): Primitive culture.
Uwaezuoka, O (2010)Globalizationand future of African culture:
Philosophicalpaper Available on line.
Royce & McQuillan& Aalund & McPhelim(1983):The Stone Townof
Zanzibar A strategyfor Integrated Development. A TechnicalReport.

6. ZANZIBAR STONE TOWN HERITAGE SOCIETY
PAPER: Globalization and Survive of Zanzibar Stone Town Cultural Heritage.