Kizimkazi Mosque

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Kizimkazi Dimbani Mosque
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Shown within Tanzania
Location Kusini District, Unguja South Region, Tanzania
Coordinates 6°26′9.96″S39°27′44.64″E / 6.4361000°S 39.4624000°E / -6.4361000; 39.4624000
TypeSettlement
History
Material Coral rag
Founded1107 CE
Cultures Swahili
Site notes
OwnershipTanzanian Government
ManagementAntiquities Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism [1]
Architecture
Architectural styles Swahili & Islamic
Official nameKizimkazi Mosque
TypeCultural
The oldest mosque that is still in use today in East Africa

The Kizimkazi Dimbani Mosque (Misikiti wa kale wa Kizimkazi Dimbani in Swahili) is a mosque Located in the town of Dimbani, Kusini District of Unguja South Region in Tanzania. It is situated on the southern tip of the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania and is one of the oldest Islamic buildings on the East African coast. [2] Despite its name, it is located in Dimbani, not Kizimkazi, which is 3 miles (4.8 kilometres) away (this is because the official names of these two joined villages are Kizimkazi Dimbani and Kizimkazi Mtendeni). According to a preserved kufic inscription, it was built in 1107. [3] Although the inscription and certain coral-carved decorative elements date from the period of construction, the majority of the present structure was rebuilt in the 18th century. [4]

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References

  1. ↑ "Antiquities Division" . Retrieved 21 Jul 2022.
  2. ↑ Freeman-Grenville, G. S. P., and B. G. Martin. “A Preliminary Handlist of the Arabic Inscriptions of the Eastern African Coast.” Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, no. 2, 1973, pp. 98–122. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25203450. Accessed 24 Jul. 2022.
  3. ↑ DE V. ALLEN, J. “THE ‘SHIRAZI’ PROBLEM IN EAST AFRICAN COASTAL HISTORY.” Paideuma, vol. 28, 1982, pp. 9–27. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41409871. Accessed 24 Jul. 2022.
  4. ↑ "Kizimkazi Mosque". ArchNet. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Archived from the original on 2005-02-19. Retrieved 2010-09-04.


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