The Great Mosque of Kilwa

The Great Mosque of Kilwa, located on the small island of Kilwa Kisiwani off Tanzania's coast, stands as a testament to the historical wealth and power of the Kilwa sultanate. Its current state, while impressive, reflects the ebbs and flows of trade dominance along the Swahili coast over centuries. The mosque's layered history within the former palace complex highlights the dynamic shifts in power and economic prosperity that characterized the region. This study explores how the structure embodies the complex narratives of conquest, trade, and cultural exchange that shaped Kilwa's significance during its peak.

Purdy, J. M. (2024). The Great Mosque of Kilwa. The Routledge Companion to Global Renaissance Art, 657–676. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003294986-51