Zanzibar's Forgotten Dhofar Connection: Frankincense and Rebellion

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Zanzibar's little-known but crucial link to the Dhofar region of Oman. In the late 19th century, Sultan Barghash bin Said sought to revive the ancient frankincense trade from Dhofar, using Zanzibari capital and Indian merchant networks. They discuss how this venture entangled Zanzibar in the Dhofar Rebellion, a bitter conflict between inland tribes and the coastal sultanate that lasted into the 20th century. The episode covers the key figures: Barghash, his son Khalid bin Barghash, the British consul John Kirk, and the Indian financier Tharia Topan. It also examines the role of the jahazi dhows that carried frankincense across the Indian Ocean, and how the British abolition of the slave trade reshaped the economy of Dhofar. The hosts touch on the cultural significance of frankincense in Swahili and Omani traditions, and how this trade route predated the clove boom. This is a story of ambition, rebellion, and the fragile ties that bound Zanzibar to the Arabian Peninsula. #Zanzibar #Dhofar #Frankincense #BarghashBinSaid #ThariaTopan #JohnKirk #IndianOceanTrade #Oman #SwahiliCoast #SlaveTrade #Dhow #Jahazi #DhofarRebellion #KhalidBinBarghash #19thCentury #TradeHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo