Zanzibar's population is estimated at 1,000,000, with the largest concentration being Zanzibar City which has approximately 100,000 inhabitants.

 

Zanzibar's original settlers were Bantu-speaking Africans. From the 10th century Persians arrived. But it was Arab incomers, particularly Omanis, whose influence was paramount. Due to the Arabic influence the majority of the people in Zanzibar are Muslims, being that they tend to dress in rather very appropriate/respectful/descent manner, people in Zanzibar mainly wear hibayas for the women and kanzus for the men also tourists are encouraged to also wear decently at their stay there to show a respect on their culture. Since the Arabs had migrated in Zanzibar therefore they mixed with the Bantu people and eventually gave birth that is why you may come across with many people with a mixture of Arab. The language spoken in Zanzibar is Arabic and Swahili, mainly Swahili which happen to have quite a few Arabic words in them.

The island of origin of the locals pretty much determines what tribe they belong to. The Waunguja would emanate from Unguja Island, with Wapemba tribe from Pemba Island and Watumbatu from Tumbato Island. The Hadimu and Tumbatu tribes were the indeginous people of Zanzibar, most Hadimu live in the southern part the Island while the Tumbatu are predominantly found in the North.

The official languages of Zanzibar are Kiswahili and English. English is spoken by most of the islanders, and many have a working knowledge of Italian and Arabic It's extremely useful for the traveller to have a working knowledge of Swahili, especially outside the urban areas and in remote parts of the country.

 

Religion-wise, 97% of Zanzibar's population practices the Islamic faith. The remaining mix is a combination of Hindu and Christian. 

Taarab, the prevalent indigenous music in Zanzibar is taarab. The primary influences are certainly Omani and Persian. The word taarab itself is from the Arabic, meaning 'joy, pleasure and entertainment brought about by an artistic combination of lyrics, poems and music'.Another source of influence is the local African style, along with overtones of 20th. century Western music, both from the time of the British Residency and from more modern music.