People of Mafia Island are mainly fishermen; they combine their fishing activities with small scale cultivation of foods. The island is a good retreat for adventure divers, game fishermen and those seeking simple relaxation.
The island comprises of one large (Chole, 394km²) and a number of inhabited and uninhabited off-shore islands around it, like Jibondo and Juani. Chole Bay, Mafia's protected deep-water anchorage and the original harbour, is studded with islands, sandbanks and beaches. Outside the bay unbroken reef runs along the island, from Tutia in the south to Ras Mkumbi at the northern tip. The main town is Kilondoni.
Mafia Island's history goes back to 8th century. The island once played a major role in ancient trade, between the people of Far East and mainland Tanzania. It was a regular stop for Arab and Persian boats. On the tiny island of Chole Mjini, just offshore in Chole Bay once stood a settlement, which was one of the most important towns controlling trade from the silver mines of Eastern Zimbabwe, via the old ports of Kilwa and Michangani.
In the mid 1820s, the town of Kua on Juani Island was attacked by 80 canoes filled with Sakalava cannibals from Madagascar, who ate many of the locals and took the rest into slavery.
Under a treaty of 1890 Germany took control of Mafia and constructed the buildings still evident on Chole. Germany paid Sultan Syed Ali ben Saad of Oman DM 4 million for the island and part of the mainland coast. In January 1915 Mafia was taken by British troops as a base for the air and sea assault on the cruiser Königsberg.Geography
History