Book on Zanzibar Revolution Launched in Oman

Staff Reporter

MUSCAT Saud Bin Ahmed Al Busaidi’s book ‘Memoirs of an Oman Gentleman from Zanzibar’ was launched at Bait Al Zubair Museum, under the patronage of HE Sayyid Saud Bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat, on Tuesday.

Hatim Al Taie, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Al Roya Publishing, made the opening address in the presence of dignitaries at the Bait Al Nahdhah auditorium.

Khalifa Bin Mubarak Al Hinai, secretary of the Historical Association of Oman, highlighted the historical importance of the memoirs on Zanzibar from the mid-19th century, when the author’s grandfather first settled in Zanzibar, to the revolution of 1964.

Al Busaidi’s memoirs mirror the history of Zanzibar from 1914 to the Zanzibar revolution. Like many other Omanis who were government officials, he was imprisoned during the revolution and feared for his life. One of the lucky ones, Saud Bin Ahmed, was released and fled, to settle in Libya, where he lived in exile for seven years.

A turning point came with the coming to power of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said. Al Busaidi recalls how he felt on that momentous day — “a day that was destined to become the most significant in the modern history of the Sultanate”.

His book is a gripping, action-packed story that begins with the violent outbreak of the revolution and flashes back to the idyllic days of his childhood and youth among the royalty of Zanzibar. It narrates the years of exile followed by life in Oman after the ascension of His Majesty the Sultan to the throne.

Al Busaidi’s granddaughter, Rouya Salim Al Lamki, to whom the book is dedicated, explained how the idea for the book came from her grandfather’s storytelling. She introduced him as “the man who still tells me his stories”.

Al Busaidi, 97, said: “Having, like some others present tonight, lived through the terrible revolution in Zanzibar, I know that peace is the greatest blessing in the world.”

He said Oman was an advanced and peaceful nation built under the leadership of His Majesty the Sultan. He thanked all those involved in the project – first, Jane Jaffer for her assistance and hard work in the creation of the book. “Without her commitment, the venture would not have materialised,” he said. He thanked the editor Patricia Groves for “enhancing and structuring the work to give it the excitement and flow I intended it to have”.

Earlier, the author was interviewed by the press. The book received favourable reviews as a ‘gripping story’ and of social and historical significance. The evening ended with a reception and book signing. Guests who leafed through the book were fascinated by the old photographs of people and places in Zanzibar and Oman, many of which were never seen before. The book is available at most bookstores and also at Al Roya Publishing in Al Khuwair.

Source: http://www.omantribune.com