While walking around the island of Zanzibar, you’ll come across an unexpected place: a monument to Freddie Mercury, the famous vocalist and songwriter for the rock band Queen.

Top Places in Zanzibar

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Zanzibar's Night Market

After sunset the heart of Zanzibar's historic Stone Town neighborhood transforms into a culinary playground.

-6.1606, 39.1891

Added by mhrousseau

Zanzibar, Tanzania

The House of Wonders

In Zanzibar, a historic 19th-century palace is a reminder of the world's shortest war.

-6.1610, 39.1895

Added by lewblank

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Tippu Tip's House

This slowly crumbling mansion was home to one of East Africa's richest and most powerful slave traders.

-6.1640, 39.1870

Added by Tony Dunnell

See more things to do in Zanzibar »

On a small road in Stone Town, the historic center of Zanzibar, stands what’s dubbed the Mercury House. Mercury spent parts of his childhood within this house. He was born in Zanzibar, as his parents were living there so that his father, Bomi Bulsara, could continue working with the British Colonial Office as a cashier.

Although some dispute the history, many historians believe that as a child, Mercury spent his holidays at this home in Zanzibar and his school years attending class in India. When living in Stone Town, Mercury and his parents would regularly attend the nearby Zoroastrian temple.

Although Mercury returned to Zanzibar at age 18 to live with his parents, he fled to England the next year to escape the 1964 Zanzibar Revolution, which overthrew the Sultan and killed thousands of Arabs and Indians. There, he would form Queen and spend the rest of his years.

Although his childhood home is not open to the public, its facade features a small monument with pictures of Mercury throughout his childhood and life.