Blue Heritage Among Fishermen of Mafia Island, Tanzania

Abstract

Off the South-East coast of Tanzania, at the mouth of the Rufiji River, lies the Mafia archipelago. This chapter explores the concept of blue heritage by showing how the fishermen of Mafia have altered their language, perception of time and sense of community to include the sea and its animals. It analyses how the fishermen’s method of measuring the wind and moon has created a new way of viewing time, and new terms in Swahili. Furthermore, it focuses on the interaction that fishermen have with fish and whale sharks, including the beliefs they hold of both species. Ultimately, showcasing how important the marine environment is to the culture of fishermen in Mafia as well as showing the complex nature of their blue heritage, this article is based on six months of ethnographic fieldwork which was conducted in Kilindoni, Mafia.