Ibo, Mozambique

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The island of Ibo is one belonging to the Quirimbas Archipelago, coral island 8.3 kilometers off the coast of Cabo Delgado Province in northern Mozambique. Within the province, the island belongs to the district of Ibo, in addition to the island comprises eight islands. The island is about 9 km ², 4.9 km long and 4.7 km wide, with larger bays.

Like the rest of the archipelago is part of the National Park Quirimbas Ibo. The largest town is the city of Vila do Ibo in the north- west with about 3,000 inhabitants.

History

As early as 600 AD to Arab traders here have built trading posts, bringing the island soon became part of the Swahili culture of the East African coast. Vasco da Gama reached the island in 1502; 1590 took advantage of the Portuguese island for trade in slaves and ivory, and the island became the second most important Portuguese trading center in Mozambique. Since the island was target by the Dutch and pirates from Madagascar again, built by the Portuguese in 1791, the São João Batista do Ibo. More forts on Ibo (Portuguese: Fortificações do Ibo ) are Santo António do Ibo Ibo and São José do.

Presence

The inhabitants live mainly from fishing, and there are the famous silversmiths and other artisans who sell their products partially on site. There is a modest tourist infrastructure. The island can be reached by propeller aircraft from Pemba over the airfield Ibo or by boat (from Pemba usually also ).