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Womankind
Traditionally, swimming on the island of Zanzibar
for women was strictly taboo, putting them at
serious risk of drowning. But thanks to a new
initiative, they are finally taking to the waterFor women living in Zanzibar –
an archipelago off the coast of
Tanzania – change is afoot. This
is a Muslim society where only 16 per
cent of women have a bank account
and nearly 22 per cent are married
before turning 18. The conservative
culture, along with a lack of modest
swimwear, means that women and
girls have been discouraged from
swimming, despite island life taking
place around the sea. As a result, the
rate of drowning on the African
continent is the highest in the world.
In recent years, an unexpected
opportunity has paved the way for
women’s freedom and financial
independence. Seaweed farming has
suddenly boomed, becoming one
of the island’s largest industries,
thanks to a rising global demand (it’s
shipped overseas to make anything
from shampoo to toothpaste).
Because farming the ocean’s crop
is deemed ‘women’s labour’ – women
account for 80 per cent of its
production – this sudden growth has
given them a much-needed leg-up
within society, not to mention
financial independence. But sincethe seaweed farmers cannot swim –
like most women on the island – the
work remains dangerous.
Now, the tide is finally turning.
The Panje Project (panje means ‘big
fish’ in Swahili) is teaching local girls
and women, including seaweed
farmers, how to swim. Each student
is given a burkini – a full-length
swimsuit – to enable them to learn,
without compromising their
modesty. Once proficient, students
then teach others, which means the
project is completely self-sufficient.
Photographer Anna Boyiazis, from
California, spent two weeks capturing
teachers and students on the project.
‘The women were afraid of the sea
when they first entered the water,’
she says. ‘Submerging their heads
seemed to be their most challenging
lesson but, over time, it was
phenomenal to watch their facial
expressions and body language shift
from fear and trepidation to joy.
I was rooting for their success! It felt
as though I was witnessing an act of
emancipation.’ At long last, women in
Zanzibar are stepping – or swimming- into their rightful space.
WOMEN
MAKING
W A V E S
Staying afloat: a group of
primary school children
learn to swim for the first
time (right). During lessons,
students are taught to
float, swim and perform
rescues (below)
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANNA BOYIAZIS