In
Zanzibar, students were asked to conduct an oral history with
someone in the city, and then to transcribe about 10-15 minutes
of the interview. This helped the students learn about various
aspects of Swahili culture and also to learn a technique that
they will use again when completing an ethnography in Iringa.
This
interview was conducted by Sangmi Choung in Zanzibar, Tanzania
on October 7, 2003. The interview subjects were Rahma Abdalla
Mohamed Abubaker (32 years old) and Raya Soud Ali Mohamed
(59 years old). This interview was translated by Hameed Abdallah
Mohammed Aboubakar (22 years old).
Sangmi
Choung: I would like to ask about inter-racial marriage.
Rahma Abubaker: Okay. It's okay. Carry on.
Raya Mohamed: Okay.
Sangmi: (To Rahma) Is there any difficulties between you
and your husband due to inter-racial issues? I understand that your
husband is African and you are Arabic, right?
Rahma: Ah. No.
Sangmi: No!?
Rahma: No, it's okay. Because
here in Zanzibar, there is no distinction between races. There is
no apartheid. So there is no problem.
Sangmi: Is that because you
share same religion, Islam, with your husband?
Rahma: Yes, that too. As
I've told you, all Muslims are one family. Never mind who is the
African, Arabic, Swahili. We are all human beings. We can live together.
Sangmi: Would that be different
if a couple have different religions? Like if you are something
other than a Muslim, would there be any problem in marrying your
husband?
Rahma: Yes. Muslims has to
marry a Muslim.
Sangmi: Never another religion?
Rahma: Never another religion.
You must change your religion of you want to marry a Muslim. Other
wise.... For example, if you want to marry someone who is a Muslim,
then you must give up your own religion to become Muslim. And then
you can get married. Without that, the marriage will not work. It
won't be a complete marriage.
Sangmi: So a person always
has to become Muslim? Can't the Muslim person convert to something
else? Or is that out of the question?
Hameed Aboubakar: What do you mean?
Sangmi: Rahma said that if
a woman is a Christian, and a man is a Muslim, the woman has to
become Muslim. But is it possible for the man to become Christian
for the woman? Or does the woman need to convert to Muslim for the
future husband? Do you understand my question?
Hameed: I don't get
it.
Sangmi: Okay. So there is
a Muslim person and a Christian person right? And Rahma said that
the Christian person should become Muslim in order for a marriage
to work? But couldn't the Muslim person become a Christian instead
and then get married? Or...
Hameed: Yes, but uh...
Sangmi: Is that impossible?
Hameed: But it's not
the.. I mean, good thing in Islam.
Sangmi: To abandon a religion?
Hameed: Yes. That's
to break the law of Islam. And the law says that if you turn the
religion, you must be punished by God. God will give judgment.
Sangmi: Oh, so... Muslims can't change their religion...
Okay... Um, is that same for her too? (Pointing to Bibi Raya) She
had no problem with her husband due to inter-racial issues?
Rahma: No problem.
Sangmi: Your mother had no problem during the time she
got married?
Rahma: No, no. No problem.
It's okay.
Raya: My husband was
older.
Sangmi: Oh, big difference in age...
Rahma: Different for 40 years,
huh? (To Bibi Raya who nods)
Sangmi: 40 years!?
Hameed: Yes, 40 years.
So that even if the husband is very old, she'll be young enough
to have children. That's why.
Sangmi: Okay. So there was no difficulties... So as long
as the couples are both Muslims, there is no problem?
Hameed: Yes. Everyone
will follow the same Islamic laws, so no problem. The law applies.
Do you understand?
Sangmi: Yes! Thank you.
Rahma: Any other questions?
Hameed: You can continue.
Sangmi: Is there anything
you want to add? (To Rahma)
Rahma: My cousin marries
a Japanese woman. She was studying in China. She became Muslim,
a good Muslim. Because..... ninja (nikabu) Do you know ninja? [She
makes a hand gesture, draws a horizontal rectangle around her eyes.]
Sangmi: She wears that!?
Rahma: Yes!
Sangmi: Oh, wow!
Rahma: Even on her hands,
she wears gloves. She is very dedicated. She came to Zanzibar for
her husband, to live for two years. But they....her, the life was...
Sangmi: Too hard?
Rahma: Really hard, so they
left. Returned together.
Sangmi: But they are still
together?
Rahma: Yes. Still together,
but in Japan.
Sangmi:
Wow. Interesting. So people in
Zanzibar doesn't have any conflict between different races....?
Hameed:
Between different religion?
Sangmi: I mean.... Yes.
Different in like Indian, Arabic, African...
Hameed: Ah, no. It's
okay. I mean, Hindus have Hindu temples, Christians have churches.
Even if there are churches there is no problem. People have different
religions and it's their choice. Even on TV, there are Christian
programs. They talk about their religion. It's not only Muslims
that talk. So it's okay. Nothing conflicting.
Sangmi: Okay...
Hameed: Finished?
Sangmi: Uh-huh. Thank you
very much.
Rahma: You are welcome. Anytime.
Raya: You are welcome.
Sangmi:
Thank you.
