Middle East & Africa | Urbanisation gone nuts

What the price of Zanzibari coconuts says about African development

Islanders are chopping down trees as cities expand

ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA - AUGUST 27 : An official climbs a coconut tree as he introduces spices and fruits which they grow in Zanzibar, Tanzania on August 27, 2018. Zanzibar meaning "land of the blacks" was established by Iranian immigrants. In history the Island was ruled by Portuguese, Omani and the British. Zanzibar Island carries the traces of African, Arabic, Indian and European civilisations with its culture and architecture. It's a remarkable trade point as having links to an important sea. It is also known to host Sultanate of Zanzibar. Fishers in Zanzibar go off Indian Ocean as many provide their livings from fishing.  (Photo by Mahmut Serdar Alakus/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Image: Getty Images
|ZANZIBAR

Musa Haidar holds a coconut to his ear and shakes it from side to side. Its sloshing pleases the market trader, who puts the large brown ovoid back atop the pile at his stall on the outskirts of Zanzibar City, the main one on the east African island.

This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Shell companies”

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