Changuu

Adam and I talked a lot about our various goings-on of the last five years, and also visited Changuu, also known as Prison Island, off the coast of Stone Town. The name comes from the island’s function as a former prison for enslaved people, during Zanzibar’s role as a major slaving centre.

At one of the most sombre points on the island, the stone platform beyond an archway that served as the docking point for slaves, How Am I Supposed To Live Without You by Michael Bolton was crooning out from a nearby speaker. The tone struck was a little incongruous.

The sombre mood was further shattered in the adjacent area which houses a large number of Aldabra giant tortoises, the original population of which was gifted by the British governor of the Seychelles. This male tortoise mounted its mate and made grunting noises that were rather…lifelike. A crowd of bystanders gathered (both people and fellow tortoises), until two of the tortoises apparently got envious of the revelry and pushed the male off the female. Then everyone went on with their days.