The sun sets behind a corrugated roofed room where women sleep and service clients

Fauda Joseph, 28, lays on a foam mattress at the brothel where she both lives and works in Zanzibar. She is from the Christian mainland of Tanzania, but came here when her 1-year-old son passed away, as her husband began beating her believing that she was a witch who caused the death of the child.

Sex workers hang their purses high up on nails to protect from theft

Adama Charles, 29, puts on makeup before the Saturday evening rush. She came to Zanzibar 3 months ago hoping to work with tourists but ended up in a local brothel. She is routinely criticized by shopkeepers in the villages, so now wears a hijab whenever she leaves the premises

Emptied liquor bottles remain after a night of drinking. Konyagi is a considered the national drink of Tanzania. A 70 proof liquor, similar to gin, it's low cost ( $3 dollars for a large bottle) makes it very popular

Women's items 

Entrance to one of the rooms used to entertain men

Marie Elias, stands after meeting with a local client

Press on toenails

Women braiding hair before the Saturday night rush. These braids rows work well under the wigs that are sometimes worn to attract customers

The women live & work at the bar. During the day they handwash their laundry and hang to dry on a line

Women resting before work begins on Saturday, the busiest night at the bar

On a slow night, the women have dragged their sleeping mattresses outside, hoping to catch a breeze in Zanzibar's 90+ degree weather.

Saturday night

Trash is burned nightly