Off the Wall

With its temperate climate, spice-filled air, and warm people, old Stone Town on Zanzibar island does more than welcome its visitors. It invites them into the details of its everyday life. Afternoons around the sea wall close to the Forodhani Gardens slowly fill up with anticipating spectators, all waiting for the jumping Zanzibari youth, also known as the “Makachu jumpers”.

Jumping off the four-meter-high wall into the shallow waters of the Indian Ocean, the daily routine provides an exciting experience of what has become an iconic sighting in the ancient capital. The youth launch themselves against the backdrop of a setting African sun, twisting and flipping mid-air before slicing into the sea below. It is a masterclass in adrenaline that turns a simple way to cool off into a celebrated cultural phenomenon.

Documenting it more than once proved that there is always something new to witness. Whether it is a gravity-defying new move, a comedic new trick, or a fresh group member trying to earn their stripes among the veterans, Stone Town’s jumping youth will always put on something new and off the wall.

As they hold the crowd's attention, the nearby Forodhani night market stalls come alive, mixing the scent of fresh Zanzibar pizzas and seafood with the salty sea breeze. The kids climbing back up the ladders, dripping wet and grinning, represent the joyful, creative spirit of the island. It is a living, breathing performance that costs nothing to watch but leaves an indelible mark on everyone along the sea wall.

Rasha Al Jundi is part of Issue 18 by Guest Editor Hank Willis Thomas.