Oman's Swahili Coast: The Great Mosque of Kilwa

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Great Mosque of Kilwa, a stunning coral-stone structure on the Swahili Coast that reveals the depth of Omani influence in East Africa. They trace its origins in the 11th century under the Shirazi dynasty, its expansion under the Mahdali sultans, and its later use by the Omani Busaidi empire. Key figures include Ali ibn al-Hasan, Sultan al-Hasan ibn Sulaiman, and Sayyid Said bin Sultan. The episode highlights the mosque's unique architecture, including its great dome and coral-stone construction, and discusses the island's role in the gold and ivory trades that connected Kilwa to the Indian Ocean world. The conversation also touches on the decline of Kilwa under Portuguese occupation in the 16th century and its eventual integration into the Omani empire in the 18th century. Listeners will gain a concrete understanding of how Kilwa's mosque stands as a monument to centuries of cultural and economic exchange between Oman and East Africa, and how it reflects the broader history of the Swahili Coast. #Oman #SwahiliCoast #Kilwa #GreatMosqueOfKilwa #Busaidi #SayyidSaidBinSultan #IndianOcean #DhowTrade #CoralStone #Shirazi #Mahdali #PortugueseEmpire #GoldTrade #IvoryTrade #EastAfrica #IslamicArchitecture #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo