The 1836 Treaty of Commerce Zanzibar and the American Connection

In this episode of The History of Zanzibar, Lucas and Luna explore a little-known but pivotal moment in the island's history: the 1836 Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States and the Busaidi Sultanate of Zanzibar. While previous episodes focused on Omani, Persian, and Indian influences, this episode turns to the unexpected arrival of American merchants in the Indian Ocean. Listen as Lucas recounts how Said bin Sultan, eager to break the British monopoly on trade, welcomed American consul Richard Waters to Stone Town. The treaty opened Zanzibar's ports to American clove and ivory buyers, set fixed tariffs, and established a consulate that lasted decades. But the episode also delves into the darker side: the Americans' involvement in the slave trade and the moral contradictions of a young republic trading with a slave-based economy. Lucas also discusses the clove boom, the role of Indian financiers like Jairam Sewji, and how the treaty reshaped Zanzibar's global connections. A rich look at a forgotten chapter of Zanzibar's history that still echoes today. #Zanzibar #SaidBinSultan #1836Treaty #USConsul #RichardWaters #IndianOcean #CloveTrade #Slavery #Busaidi #StoneTown #JairamSewji #AmericanHistory #OmaniEmpire #SpiceIslands #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast #19thCentury Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo