Consecrated in 1879, Christ Church Cathedral in Stone Town, Zanzibar, stands as a powerful testament to the end of East Africa’s largest slave market, upon whose grounds it was built. For centuries, Zanzibar served as a pivotal political and economic center, tragically also the hub of a vast and brutal trade in human lives. This market, located at sites including the present Mkunazini, saw thousands of men, women, and children auctioned annually.
Upon arrival, enslavers first took their human cargo to the Customs House to pay import tax. Afterward, the enslaved were either directly presented at the market or prepared for sale elsewhere, the duration of preparation dictated solely by profit potential based on their assigned category and anticipated price.
At its peak, the Zanzibar market was a chaotic scene of traders and auctioneers vying for bids, with hundreds of individuals sold daily. Beyond commerce, it morbidly served as a place where locals, and even surprisingly, some better-off slaves, would inspect and discuss the “merchandise.” Arabs from the Gulf, Baluchi mercenaries, Somalis, merchants from India and nearby islands, and even some Westerners like French Catholic Spiritans (who termed their purchases “ransoming”) frequented this grim emporium.
Prices for enslaved people varied greatly based on their intended use. Harem women fetched the highest prices, while children were in constant demand. Older or weakened individuals commanded significantly lower values. Zanzibar’s leading citizens, merchants, and businessmen were integral to this system, financing the inland caravans and exploiting slave labor on their estates.
The construction of Christ Church Cathedral was driven by Bishop Edward Steere, a central figure in the Universities’ Mission to Central Africa (UMCA). He designed much of the structure, skillfully incorporating local materials and craftsmanship.
The land upon which the Cathedral now stands was purchased in 1872 by the Customs Master Lakshmidas, a Kutchi Indian. Under pressure from British authorities to close the slave market, Lakshmidas eventually complied, relocating it briefly. Finally, on June 5th, 1873, Sultan Barghash signed the treaty abolishing the slave trade in Zanzibar and ordered the market’s immediate closure. However, while the sale of slaves ended then, the institution of slavery itself persisted until 1897, when slaves could petition for freedom (though concubines were initially excluded). It wasn’t until 1909 that concubines gained the right to seek freedom.
Built with a unique blend of Islamic and Victorian architectural elements, the Cathedral’s altar was intentionally placed over the former whipping post. Inside, black cobblestones mark the location of the old slave dungeons, while outside, a monument depicts chained figures, a stark reminder of the market’s brutality. The cross within the Cathedral is crafted from the wood of David Livingstone’s burial site, a poignant link to the fight against slavery. Nearby, the Exhibition of the Slave Market of Eastern Africa offers further historical context.
Interesting Facts About Christ Church Cathedral / Old Slave Market
- The cross is made from wood from Livingstone’s burial site, in Zambia, honoring his anti-slavery work
- The church altar marks the exact location where enslaved people were whipped.
- The cathedral stands on the site of the last permanent slave market in East Africa.
How to Get There
Located centrally in Stone Town, Zanzibar City, the Cathedral is easily accessible within the old town on foot. Taxis or “bajaj” can also drop you off nearby should you not feel like walking.
