Pirates from Kizimkazi

And then, when the sea no longer reflects all the turquoise colors like a few hours before, when the sun is slowly approaching the horizon and the sea is slowly receding, they set off. They are taken to their ships in small boats. They lie at anchor far off the coast. It's hard to say how many ships there are. Today, I counted 51. During the day, the sails rolled up around the masts and flat on the ship, waiting for them to return. Many seem to struggle just to swim.

When the holey sail is spread and hoisted by manpower, they set sail towards the sea. Towards the sunset.

At sunrise, you can see them again. The many ships with their spread sails heading towards land. When they are close enough, you can hear their calls. Triumphant cries after their raid. Back on land, they prepare their treasures.

They sell what they can sell and then rest. Because in a few hours, when the sun is approaching the horizon again, they set off again.

The fishermen from Pemba, who roam the waters off Kizimkazi for three months. Fearless in the night, they are far out on the Indian Ocean with their wooden boats and holey sails without lights. How they catch the big fish or even sharks with their equipment will remain a mystery to me. But maybe it's true what they say in the village. Maybe I have seen them. Maybe they really are pirates...