Sit local, think global: the baraza in Zanzibar

Although being a major feature of Zanzibar’s everyday life, the ‘baraza’ (pl. ‘mabaraza’) has so far largely escaped attention of academic discussion. Public or semi-public places where people (usually men) of a house, of a neighbourhood or even a larger social configuration meet to sit and chat, to spend time, drink coffee and discuss politics, religion, football or other quotidian issues are certainly found in many societies. Yet, Zanzibar’s ‘baraza’ are so omnipresent that it is hard to imagine the island without them. At the same time, ‘baraza’ life is not easy to grasp. Although there are set rules of ‘baraza’ etiquette, they are not a permanent ‘institution’ but may disappear as quickly as they have come into existence. This contribution discusses some of the major features of ‘baraza’ life and the spatial organization of the ‘baraza’, in particular, and to establish thereby something like a ‘baraza’ ‘sociology’. Notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]