Kilwa Kisiwani
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Description
Kilwa is a former Swahili town on the island of Kilwa Kisiwani, Tanzania. From the 10th to 16th centuries AD it was a vibrant trading centre. Now it consists of numerous ruined stone buildings, including mosques, palaces, houses and tombs. There is also a small village of isolated farm houses and small agricultural plots. The early history of the town is obscure, partly because its structures, dating from 800 to 1000 AD were built of timber and earth daub with few stone foundations. Modern archaeological research on the coast of Tanzania indicates that the historical origins of the Swahili were Iron Age African societies exploiting the rich resources of the coastal region. They made pottery similar to that of populations in the interior, with whom they had close contact. Their situation on the coast also enabled them to engage in the Arab-dominated circum-Indian Ocean trade, which eventually led to their conversion to Islam. Imported ceramics dated to 800 to 1150 AD show that there was at least indirect contact with Persia, China, India and Egypt.
The onset of the main phase of stone building using blocks of coral is poorly dated, but it was well established by 1200 AD. The growth of the town may have been accelerated by immigration from the hinterland as well as Islamic trading partners to produce a cosmopolitan urban centre. According to the Arabic “History of Kilwa” written around 1550 AD, the town was founded by a Shirazi Persian called Ali ibn al-Husein. Local coinage dated to around 1000 AD bears the name of Ali bin al-Hasan; but there is no certainty that he was the same person or a ruler of Kilwa, and the historical record is now considered to be semi-mythological. Nevertheless, the growing urbanisation included conversion to Islam and the construction around 1100 AD of the Great Mosque.
The history of the period from about 1280 to 1400 AD is better known. Kilwa was administered by Mahdali rulers, who originated from the southern Arabian Hadhramaut. The most famous Mahdali ruler was al-Hasan ibn Sulaiman Abu’l-Mawahib (about 1310 to 1333 AD). He was ruling when Ibn Battuta, who wrote a description of the town, reportedly visited in 1331. Al-Hasan ibn Sulaiman was responsible for building the southern extension of the Great Mosque and the unfinished palace complex called Husuni Kubwa (The Great House). Both involved extensive use of domes and vaults, and Husuni Kubwa, built between about 1300 and 1320, is considered to be the most innovative of all Swahili architecture.
In the late 14th century AD there was an apparent decline, with abandonment of Husuni Kubwa and damage to the Great Mosque extension. This was restored to some extent in the mid-15th century AD, accompanied by the building of several urban mosques, including the Small Domed Mosque and a possible new sultan’s palace. The 16th century AD was disastrous for Kilwa. In 1505, the Portuguese in their frenzy to take control the East African gold trade occupied the town, and built the first of several forts on the East African coast. In 1513 the fortress was largely demolished by the Portuguese when they moved to Mombasa. They abandoned the town to a succession of minor sultans, and from the mid-18th century AD it was under control of Omani Arabs, who rebuilt the fort on the Portuguese ruins. The final major constructions were a royal palace at Makutani in the late 18th century AD and the rebuilt Gereza Fort around 1800 AD.
Gereza Fort
The Gereza Fort is thought to be an Omani structure built on the site of a Portuguese fort. The name is derived from "igreja", Portuguese for church. "Gereza" became the Swahili word for "prison".
Great Mosque
The Great Mosque is an extensive, complex building, with construction dating from the 10th to 18th centuries AD.
Husuni Kubwa
Husuni Kubwa is a palace complex dating from the early 14th centuries AD. It contains a residential area, bathing pool, various courtyards, and a private mosque.
Makutani Building
This is a fortified enclosure, containing the sultan’s palace, dating from the 18th century AD..
Malindi Mosque
This mosque was originally built in the 15th century AD and significantly reconstructed in the 18th century AD.
Further reading:
Horton, M. 1997. Eastern African historical archaeology. In Vogel, J. O. ed. Encyclopedia of precolonial Africa: 549-554. Walnut Creek: Altamira Press.
Kusimba, C. M. 1997. Swahili and the coastal city-states. In Vogel, J. O. ed. Encyclopedia of precolonial Africa: 507-513. Walnut Creek: Altamira Press.
Pwiti, G. 2005. Southern Africa and the East African Coast. In Stahl, A. B. ed. African archaeology - a critical introduction: 379-391. Oxford: Blackwell.
Acknowledgement:
These texts are based primarily on informations on the Aluka website (aluka.org)