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The unique `mtepe` boat of Zanzibar
2008-08-03 10:10:10
By Staff Writer Peter Msungu
Displayed prominently in the House of Wonders Museum (Bet-el-Ajaib) in Zanzibar, is the `Mtepe` or Shungwaya, an ancient sea vessel that used to sail in the East African waters until the 1930s.
Talking about the unique vessel, Major R.Salim (rtd) explained that no nails were used to build the boats. Instead the planks were sewn with coir fibre and fastened to the ribs by wooden pegs.
Mtepe sailed to as far as China
Major Salim said it was a common method of dhow construction in the Indian Ocean before the coming of Europeans in the 16th century.
He added that these vessels were strong enough to sail all the way to China during the middle ages, as the similarly built Omani vessel, the `Sohar` did in 1892.
Some were quite big, says Major Salim, who got this information from his grandfather.
One `Mtepe\' in the 19th century was nearly 30 metres long weighing 186 tonnes.
Legends on Mtepe abound
The retired Major explains that there are a lot of stories on why these vessels were sewn. One story is that some people believed magnetic mountains in the ocean would pull out the iron nails or pull the whole vessel down to the bottom of the sea. Others thought iron was too expensive and would easily rust in the salty sea.
Legend has it that it is very likely the raw materials, wood and coir rope, were easily available in the Indian Ocean, and sewn vessels were more pliable than the stiff nailed ones and less likely to break up on the coral-infested shores.
According to Major Salim, the `Mtepe` carried a square matting sail which was plaited from the fibre of the wild date palm, rather than the lateen sail that has now become the trademark of Indian Ocean dhows.
It carried cattle, salt, food grains, firewood, mangrove poles and formerly slaves as well. However coconuts were strictly excluded because it was believed they would loosen the coir ropes.
Mtepe went out of fashion
Omari Juma, one of the official tour guides in the House of Wonders Museum, talking of the `Mtepe` boat, displayed in the Museum, explained that this was the first life-size `Mtepe` that had been constructed on the Swahili coast in more than 70 years.
He said there were several models in various museums in Zanzibar, Kenya and Europe, but few of them appear to be accurate judging from contemporary photographs and line drawings.
The `Mtepe` may have finally become extinct as a result of competitions from the `Jahazi` which were put together using nails, and schooners.
The `Mtepe` on display in the House of Wonders was built with a grant from the Royal Danish Embassy under the direction of Fundi Mohamed Bwana from Lamu in Kenya, whose grandfather was a skilled boat builder.
The guide explained that the re-building of the `mtepe` was to preserve the Dhow Culture of the Indian Ocean in which the `mtepe` will be the centre piece.
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