Zanzibar Bohra Community — Stone Town, Tanzania

Zanzibar's Stone Town is one of the most historically significant locations in the entire Bohra diaspora. The island of Zanzibar was the hub of the Indian Ocean trade network for centuries — connecting the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian subcontinent, the Persian Gulf, and the East African coast. Bohra merchants arrived in Zanzibar as early as the 16th and 17th centuries, and by the 19th century, the Zanzibar Sultanate (ruled by the Omani Al Said dynasty) had made the island the commercial capital of East Africa. Bohras were central figures in this commercial world — trading in cloves (Zanzibar was the world's largest clove producer), textiles, ivory, and a range of luxury goods. The Bohra masjid in Stone Town is among the oldest Islamic structures in East Africa and stands as a testament to the community's centuries-old presence on the Swahili Coast. Stone Town's architecture reflects the fusion of Arab, Indian, Persian, and Swahili traditions — and the Bohra quarter of Stone Town was an integral part of this cosmopolitan world. The community maintained its Bohra identity, Lisan ud-Dawat, and connection to the Dai in Mumbai throughout the colonial era (first under the Sultanate, then under British rule). The Zanzibar Revolution of 1964 was a traumatic event for the Bohra community: many fled to mainland Tanzania, Kenya, and the UK in its aftermath. Despite this diaspora, the community persists in Zanzibar and maintains its historical masjid and traditions.