Islamic Manuscripts in Eastern Africa - Hidden Stories conversations

Islamic Manuscripts in Eastern Africa: The Qur’ans of the Swahili Coast and an Ethiopian Qur’an from Harar Long overlooked as peripheral to African manuscript culture, Islamic manuscript production of eastern Africa (Ethiopia and the Swahili Coast) demonstrates deep transnational connections to trade and religious networks across the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Europe, and other regions of Africa. The conversation explores 18th and 19th-century manuscripts from Harar, Ethiopia, and the Swahili Coast of East Africa and highly illuminated Qur’ans from Pate Island. The books often use paper from Italy and are made using calligraphic and decorative styles that blend influences from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean cultures with a unique local style. The conversation traces these connections and challenges the East-West Silk Roads narrative, highlighting the valuable contributions of eastern African artisans and scholars on global manuscript culture and the broad Islamic world. Join Sana Mirza (Smithsonian Insti