Zanzibar may be known as the “Spice Island,” but along its serene southeastern shores, something just as powerful is taking root beneath the waves—seaweed. And at the heart of this quiet revolution are the remarkable women of Paje, affectionately known as the Seaweed Mamas.
In the gentle glow of dawn, before the kites fly and the beaches come alive, the ocean belongs to them. Waist-deep in the calm waters, these women begin their day in rhythm with the tides—planting, harvesting, and tending to their underwater farms with grace and determination.
Seaweed farming was introduced to Zanzibar in the 1980s and has become more than just a source of income. It’s become a movement. Traditionally, opportunities for women were limited, but the sea has become a sanctuary—a place of empowerment, community, and quiet strength.
Though the pay is modest, the rewards are immense. By farming seaweed, these women gain independence. They contribute to their families, make their own choices, and support one another through life’s highs and lows. Their work is exported around the world, used in everything from cosmetics to medicine, yet its greatest impact is felt right here—at home.
Back on land, the Seaweed Mamas gather at community centers or in the sun outside their homes, drying their colorful harvests and handcrafting soaps from their crops. These are not just workspaces—they’re sacred spaces of sisterhood. Here, they talk, laugh, share advice, and lend a hand for weddings, funerals, or when someone simply needs a meal or a kind word.
“Alone, you can only do so much,” one mama says with a smile, “but together, we can do so much more.”
Zanzibar’s seaweed industry now includes over 23,000 farmers—mostly women—and accounts for 90% of the island’s marine exports. But numbers only tell part of the story. What’s truly remarkable is the transformation taking place in these shallow waters. Through hardship and hope, the Seaweed Mamas are not only cultivating crops—they’re cultivating change.
And that, in itself, is something beautiful.
