the word "zanzibar" probably derives from the persian زنگبار, "zangi-bar" ("coast of the blacks") and it is also known as zanji-bar in arabic. zanzibar is sometimes referred to as the "spice islands," a term that is more often used for the maluku islands in indonesia. pemba island is the only island apart from zanzibar that still produces cloves on a major basis which is the primary source of spice income for the islands.