For centuries, Mafia Island has been a crossroads for trade and cultural exchange along the Swahili Coast. Early settlements date back to the 8th century when Mafia was a thriving hub of commerce and culture.
Over the centuries, the island transitioned from being under Omani influence in the 18th Century, to a subject of German and British control in the early 20th Century, to its current status as part of Tanzania, which achieved its independence in 1961.
Today, the island shines as a beacon of marine conservation and ecotourism. Its rich, abundant marine life draw tourists from Tanzania and around the world.
