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Check latest episodes from History of Africa podcast

Season 6 Episode 18: The Omani Empire

2025/08/11

Kilwa is brought to its knees by one final foreign invasion, which leads the island into an irreversible decline and the eventual dissolution of the sultanate.

Season 6 Episode 17: The (Brief) Portuguese Conquest of Kilwa

2025/07/21

The Portuguese have conquered Kilwa. Let's see how much pain their victory causes them in the long run.

Season 6 Episode 16: The Portuguese Arrive

2025/06/30

The Portuguese arrive in Kilwa. This should go well.

From the Vault: Zengjiani, the Zanzibari Traveler in China

2025/06/09

As my voice recovers, please enjoy this "from the vault" episode about Zengjiani, a famous East African traveler who reached numerous impressive destinations.

Season 6 Episode 15: The Unstable 15th Century part 2: Emir Muhammad the Powerful

2025/05/19

After decades of civil strife and conflict, a powerful leader finally emerges in Kilwa Kisiwani as the 14th century reached its climax. With the power of the sultanate waning, a powerful judge named Muhammad Al Kawab asserts himself as the true power behind the throne. The age of powerful monarchs is over, and Kilwa's era as an oligarchy begins.

Season 6 Episode 14: The Unstable 15th Century Part 1: Age of the Viziers Arrives

2025/04/28

Today, we enter into an age of transformation. For a prominent period in Kilwa's history, the city and its many satellites will no longer be under the reign of the centuries-old monarchy. Instead, a new apparatus of bureaucratic elites will begin to exert control over the state, and eventual make the monarchy little more than a shadow of its former self.

Season 6 Episode 13: The Stone City of Songo Mnara

2025/04/07

Urban sprawl and social instability leads Kilwa to develop a sister city on a nearby peninsula. Songo Mnara grows rapidly to become a major urban center on the Eastern Coast of Africa.

Season 6 Episode 12: Ibn Battuta’s Kilwa Vacation

2025/03/17

The great traveler Ibn Battuta arrives in Kilwa, and paints a tale of a country at the peak of its power, wealth, and prestige...but with a potentially bleaker future awaiting.

Season 6 Episode 11: The Father of Gifts

2025/02/24

Every historic civilization has one or two famous leaders who rise above all others in their fame and prestige. Kilwa's most famous ruler was certainly Abu al Mawahib, the Father of Gifts.

Season 6 Episode 10: The Mahdali Coup

2025/02/03

The Sultanate of Kilwa influenced Zanzibar. Today, Zanzibar influences Kilwa back.

Season 6 Episode 9: The height of the Shirazi Dynasty

2025/01/13

In today's episode, we examine the height of the Shirazi Dynasty - with Kilwa's absorption of several nearby islands and territories, as well as the transformation of Kilwa from an island of wooden buildings to an island of coral limestone structures.

Season 6 Episode 8: The Age of Rebellions

2024/12/23

The 11th century: a period of tumult in Kilwa's history. The sultanate overthrows the yoke of the Xanga, only to find that this rebellion is not the last.

Season 6 Episode 7: Kilwa is Conquered

2024/12/02

In today's episode, a mysterious conqueror from the mainland captures the island of Kilwa. In this episode, we examine the story of the matata mandalin, and the mysterious kingdom of Xanga, a mysterious great power that brought the nascent kingdom of Kilwa to its knees.

Season 6 Episode 6: Lime, Iron, and Salt

2024/11/11

In today's episode, we chart the growth of Kilwa as a major economic center, from its growth as a manufacturer of lime and iron, to its rise as a middleman in the trade of gold from Africa's southern reaches, as well as its blossoming into a maritime power.

Season 6 Episode 5: Make Way for Prince Ali - The Mysterious Kilwa Chronicle

2024/10/21

It seems unlikely that he had 75 golden camels, but it's hard to say much else about Prince Ali of Shiraz. This historical figure has semi-historical origins, attested to in a mysterious document known as the "Kilwa Chronicle." In today's episode, we assess various interpretations of the Kilwa Chronicle, as well as the Sultanate's origins.

Read History of Africa podcast reviews

4.7 out of 5

202 reviews

LeahEDH 2026/01/20

Exceptional work

Extremely interesting stuff! Thank you so much for making this podcast! The detail and commitment to integrity is wonderful. I hope more seasons are t...

disnotkool 2025/12/14

Excellent Show ! Informative and credible !

As an academic whose focus and background is in West Africa I can say without a doubt this podcast is one of exceptional quality. These are the kinds ...

Cob Salad 2025/10/15

Are there some missing episodes?

I just got into this podcast and it seems like season one is completely missing from Apple podcast. Is there a place I can check it out?

Coloradodale 2025/01/14

Enrich your history

As a podcast and history addict, this is a great podcast to learn World history, not just African history. Andy does outstanding research and presenta...

looveee0426 2024/09/13

Great podcast!

I love this podcast it’s informative, and attention grabbing. Easy to follow and pay attention.

Aleksei_Sychterz 2024/07/23

A absolutely fantastic podcast

The best podcast I’ve ever heard. Extremely in depth, intriguing subject matter and a energetic host. What’s not to love? Seriously give this a listen...

Fjddidi 2024/03/25

Best

The best African history podcasts that I’ve found

sjrf202 2024/03/15

The history podcast I’ve been searching for ❤️🖤💛💚

I love this podcast! It is so well researched, and it centers the history of Africa from a perspective that is not European dominant. So many other hi...

Andret6 2024/03/10

Start with season 2

Got that advice from another review but yea- really gets going there, super interesting stuff !

nxavis 2023/08/22

Season 3 is amazing

My recommendation is to start with season 2. This show really comes into its own when covering the Ashanti Empire in season 3. Lots of hard to find in...

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