Freddie Mercury's complex relationship with Zanzibar

[JHan]

With the release of a new film about the British rock band Queen, the spotlight has fallen again on the life of its legendary lead singer, Freddie Mercury.

His flamboyant stage presence, outlandish costumes, memorable hits, fluid sexuality, and death from an Aids-related illness at just 45 are defining memories of the British rock scene of the 1970s and 1980s.

Less well-known - and barely mentioned in the film - is that he was born in the Tanzanian archipelago of Zanzibar to a family whose roots lie in India and Persia.

Here are five things you should know about Freddie Mercury and Zanzibar, a conservative Muslim society

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-45900712

[underpants]

1. I did not know that

Thanks

[Kind of Blue]

2. The title of the article is intriguing.

Knowing that Mercury was born in Zanzibar and knowing he didn't speak much of it or his Asian heritage, I was hoping to know more of his "complex relationship" with the country. It's funny, at once spreading the news but then it seems more like the author's feeling and nothing to do with Mercury's thoughts. I think he had it worked out that neither defined who this genius was.

Those East African doors tho!

Thanks for posting, JHan

[JHan]

3. no it's not very detailed, but it does make me want to find out more :)

Freddie himself didn't talk about it much, so I think we're just limited on that front.. The writer just decided to frame it culturally - because it's interesting to see how conflicted Zanzibar clerics are about Freddie and the attention the place attracts because of him.

[Kind of Blue]

4. Agreed, framing it culturally is on point.

Thank goodness the man seemed to have skipped all that to be himself.