An investigation of land tenure in Zanzibar - Shamba land

There has been no systematic survey of land tenure in Zanzibar since 1958. This article is premised on field research carried out during 1992-93, and 1995, and seeks to achieve two ends. First, information is presented concerning a prevalent form. of tenure: the shamba lands. Second, this information is employed to discern transformations in tenure that have occurred since 1958. This longitudinal analysis indicates that there has been an individualization of land tenure on shamba lands. Above all, the village kin groups within whom land was traditionally vested are presently missing from the picture of Zanzibari shamba land.