Stock photography, photos: Arab Fort Amphitheatre - Zanzibar Stock photos of Occupying the site of an old Portuguese Chapel, is The Old Fort. The Abusaidi family of Omani Arabs, who had gained control of Zanzibar in 1698, following two centuries of Portuguese occupation, built this massive structure in the 1700s. The Arabs used the fort to defend themselves against the Portuguese and against a rival Omani group. In recent years, it has been partially renovated to house the Zanzibar Cultural Centre. In an inner courtyard lies a stone-built amphitheatre that hosts performances of local music and dance, such as Taarab, Zanzibar's most popular form of music. Zanzibar Island ˆ Tanzania. Photograph: © Robert Burch Click for a larger image and more information Keywords associated with this stock photo: Africa, East Africa, Tanzania, Zanzibar, island, fort, theatre, arab fort, amphitheatre