The Dhows of Zanzibar: Maritime Trade and the Indian Ocean World

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the world of the dhows that connected Zanzibar to the Indian Ocean. From the lateen-rigged mtepe sewn from coconut fiber to the larger jahazi and sambuk, these vessels carried not just cloves and ivory but also ideas, religions, and people. We follow the annual monsoon-driven sailing cycle, the intricate business of dhow ownership shared among Omani, Swahili, and Indian merchants, and the role of navigators like the famous Nahoda (captain) from Lamu. New archival evidence from Portuguese records and shipwrecks off the coast of Zanzibar is shedding light on the scale of this maritime network. Lucas also shares the story of a specific 1850s shipwreck near Pemba that carried a cargo of copal and enslaved people, revealing the harsh realities behind the romance of the dhow. We also discuss how the introduction of steamships and the 1873 anti-slave trade treaty disrupted this centuries-old system. A must for anyone curious about the everyday technology and commerce that made Zanzibar a crossroads. #Zanzibar #Dhows #IndianOceanTrade #Mtepe #Jahazi #Sambuk #Monsoon #Nahoda #Lamu #Pemba #Copal #SlaveTrade #Steamships #1873Treaty #MaritimeHistory #SwahiliCoast #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo