Today, the large majority of Zanzibaris is made up of people from the Swahili ethnic group, speakers of the Bantu language by the same name. Most of the population lives on the two main islands of Unguja and Pemba, whose coastlines are dotted with fishing villages. Fishing and agriculture are the main subsistence activities. Spices remain an important part of the economy as export goods, along with other tropical crops.
A key aspect of Zanzibar’s historical heritage is the presence of numerous sacred natural sites: natural features such as caves and groves that are considered sacred according to Zanzibari cultural and spiritual traditions. There are marine sacred sites as well. The sites are cared for by families of custodians in the communities, who go to the sites to make offerings of food and drink and pray to the ancestors. Sacred sites thus provide a vital link to ancestral knowledge and values, and help promote social cohesion and well-being.
As community-protected places, subject to strict taboos on resource use, sacred sites also hold significant environmental values. Sacred groves harbor patches of mature biodiversity-rich forests in an otherwise degraded forest landscape, protect natural springs that provide dry-season water for people and livestock, and are important sources of medicinal plants and other forest resources. Sea-based sacred sites are sanctuaries for marine biod