Over two centuries after cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) were first cultivated on a commercial scale in East Africa, this fragrant spice continues to hold a pivotal place in the region’s socio-economic fabric. Yet, its role is evolving under the pressures of global markets, agronomic challenges and shifting strategic priorities.
Cloves are not indigenous to Africa. They were introduced to the Zanzibar archipelago in the early 19th century by Said bin Sultan, the Sultan of Oman. Following the abolition of the slave trade, the Sultan transformed Zanzibar’s economy by establishing plantation agriculture that involved the planting of hundreds of thousands of clove trees to offset revenues lost from human trafficking.
