When visiting Ilha de Mozambique, it is difficult to imagine that this tiny, crescent-shaped island, just 3 kilometres long and 500 metres wide, once played such a crucial role in Africa’s colonial past, as the capital and main trading centre of Portuguese East Africa. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in its heyday it was a major port for Arabian and Portuguese traders dealing in gold, ivory and, sadly, slaves. Now, seemingly lost in time and space, the island offers a fascinating glimpse into 16th-century Africa.