Tonight @ 20.30 on MBC Digital 3
Ep. 3 - Zanzibar
"Zanzibar’s Forodhani Park was shabby and decrepit until the Aga Khan Trust for Culture decided to restore it to its former condition. The project was one of a series of investments undertaken by the organisation over two decades to revive the ancient architecture of Stone Town. In his address at the opening of the park, the Aga Khan explains to Zanzibaris why preservation of the area’s urban inheritance is so important. 'We undertake these projects in part because they can reinforce a sense of identity within proud communities, providing gateways to cultural understanding of the local citizens and visitors alike.'
"The revival of Zanzibar’s Stone Town has seen the Trust commit millions of US dollars to revive traditional building skills, create jobs and stimulate the local economy. Speaking at the end of Heritage Heroes, the Aga Khan says: 'What I’m hoping to achieve is the notion that these historic sites are potential economic and social dynamos. They are not frozen, paralysed historic assets. They are assets that can actually contribute to the quality of life of the people who live in those contexts.'"