EPISODE · Jul 7, 2026 · 6 MIN
Zanzibar's 1840 Indian Merchant Empire: Jairam Sewji's Spice Monopoly
from The History of Zanzibar: Spice, Slavery, and Indian Ocean Power — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In this episode, Lucas and Luna delve into the remarkable story of Jairam Sewji, the Indian merchant who effectively controlled Zanzibar's economy in the 1840s. As the chief customs master for Sultan Said bin Sultan, Sewji leveraged his position to monopolize the clove and ivory trades, amassing a fortune that rivaled the Busaid Sultanate itself. They explore how Sewji's Khoja and Bhatia networks operated, the role of the Maria Theresa thaler as currency, and the shadowy world of watoro (escaped slaves) who worked his shambas. The episode also touches on the 1846 Banyan tax revolt, when Indian merchants protested the sultan's new levies. A nuanced look at the intersection of Indian capital, Omani power, and Swahili labor. #JairamSewji #Zanzibar #IndianOceanHistory #CloveTrade #SaidBinSultan #Khoja #Bhatia #MariaTheresaThaler #Watoro #SwahiliCoast #BusaidSultanate #StoneTown #19thCentury #SpiceIslands #IvoryTrade #ColonialEconomics #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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Zanzibar's 1840 Indian Merchant Empire: Jairam Sewji's Spice Monopoly
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