Kilwa Kisiwani

The Great Mosque of Kilwa Kisiwani, off the southern coast of Tanzania, is the oldest standing mosque in sub-Saharan Africa. A powerful symbol of Kilwa’s historic role as a trade hub and center of Islamic culture, the mosque features two main sections, 42 coral stone columns, and 36 domes. It remains an active place of worship and a cornerstone of local cultural identity and conservation. This Tapestry experience was created through the Local Voices, Global Reach: Cultural Heritage in American Spaces and Beyond initiative, with support from the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania, the National Museum of Tanzania, and the Tanzanian Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA). In December 2019, CyArk traveled to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Kilwa Kisiwani to document the Great Mosque, Gereza Fort, and Malindi Mosque in collaboration with ICOMOS International and Tanzania’s Antiquities Division. Using terrestrial LiDAR, photogrammetry, and drone-based imaging, the team captured detailed records of these vulnerable sites. Gereza Fort and Malindi Mosque were prioritized due to their coastal locations and exposure to erosion. Ahead of the fieldwork, a workshop in Dar es Salaam brought together stakeholders to share project goals, review climate change impacts on heritage, and explore how digital tools can support conservation and resilience efforts.