Mercury returned to Zanzibar in 1963, aged around 17, but his time was short-lived. The Bulsaras were among thousands of Indians who fled to Britain in 1964 during the Zanzibar Revolution. While the film may not explore these details of his early life, the Lesley-Ann Jones book Mercury: An intimate biography of Freddie Mercury digs deep into his Zanzibari roots. 

Mercury and Zanzibar’s relationship remains complex, even after his death. Along with the spice markets of Stone Town, local guides also offer a tour of Mercury’s Zanzibar. The tour takes fans from the Bulsara family home through Stone Town’s narrow streets where Mercury might have played, to the Zoroastrian Fire Temple where he would have been initiated, and ending with dinner at Mercury’s a restaurant named and decorated in his honor.

Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor, Brian May and John Deacon of Queen photographed backstage in Copenhagen, Denmark. 1974.
Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor, Brian May and John Deacon of Queen photographed backstage in Copenhagen, Denmark. 1974.
Image: RTAngel / MediaPunch via AP Photo

Yet, Mercury’s sexuality remains an uncomfortable topic in the conservative society, even as it brings business to locals cashing in on tourism and bootleg Queen albums and DVDs.

Last week, 10 men were arrested for suspicion of being gay, following a call by politicians to report gay people to the police. Hundreds more have gone into hiding, or fled to Kenya and other more liberal countries. If he were alive, Mercury would have been forced to flee again. 

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