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Quirimba archipelago and Ibo island

Mozambique (Africa)

Date of Submission: 15/09/1997
Criteria: (ii)(iii)
Category: Cultural
Submission prepared by:
Department of Monuments
Coordinates:
The archipelago: Lat.12°10' to 13°10'b South Long. 40°45' Est Ibo island: Lat.12°21' South
Ref.: 917

Description

Quirimba south of Ibo and the island Matemo to the north bears the most important historical testemony. Ibo is situated about 10 km from the coast 80 km north of the provincial capital Pemba. It is about 9 square km's in size with a population of about 4000 inhabitants (1960), mainly of swahili origin (kimwani).

The archipelago was mentioned in Arab writings in the 8th century.

The Portuguese arrived in the archipelago in the beginning of the l6th century. When the Portuguese lost the domination over the northern East African coast and the sea route to India in the 17 th century they were in search of new ports to sustained the trade on the Mozambican coast. The Quirimba archipelago became one of them.

The islands were at the height of importance in the beginning of the 18 th century when the French were looking for slaves on the Mozambican coast. The islands then had annual commercial connection with the Mozambique island. Initially the Quirimba island was the capital of the archipelago, but due to attachs from the Arab sultanate of Zanzibar the capital was moved to the Ibo island. Ibo gained statua as small town (vila) in 1753.

To defend the island against Arabs, Sacalaves from Madagascar and French pirates the first fortress was constructed in 1754.

In 1791 the S. Joao Baptista Fortress was constructed and in the beginning of the 19th century the two smaller fortresses St. Antonio and S. José. In 1891 the Cabo Delgado province became part of the Niassa Company which maintained Ibo as its capital. In 1929 the capital was transfered to Porto Amélia (now Pemba). The archipelago is rich in religious, commercial and residential ruins from the time of great economical activity. On Ibo remains the fortresses and the church intact together with the urtan nucieus showing architectural influences from Arabia, Persia, India and Europe. The town is still the commercial and administrative centre of the archipelago, but it is in an advanced state of decay.