Mtoni Palace: Zanzibar's Lost Sultanate Seat

This episode of The History of Zanzibar takes listeners to the heart of Omani power on the island: Mtoni Palace. Built by Sultan Said bin Sultan in the 1830s, this palatial complex was more than a home—it was the administrative and ceremonial center of a maritime empire stretching from Oman to the Swahili Coast. We explore its architecture, its role in the clove and slave economies, the women who lived there, and its tragic decline after the British bombardment in 1896. Learn about the harem, the water gardens, the link to Princess Salme (Emily Ruete), and the palace's recent restoration. This is a story of luxury, politics, and decay, set against the backdrop of Zanzibar's golden age. #MtoniPalace #SaidBinSultan #ZanzibarHistory #OmaniEmpire #SwahiliCoast #PrincessSalme #EmilyRuete #StoneTown #CloveEconomy #SlaveTrade #IndianOceanHistory #PalaceArchitecture #Sultanate #BritishBombardment #WaterGardens #HistoricalRestoration #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo