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ABSTRACT This article examines the Ibadi and Ismaili Muslim communities in East Africa—particularly in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania (including Zanzibar)—and their distinct religious, social, and economic roles. Even as minorities within predominantly Sunni contexts, both groups have shaped the region through migration, commerce, and international networks. Often overlooked in studies of postcolonial Islam, they are frequently (mis)identified by ethnic labels (“waarabu” for Ibadis, “wahindi” for Ismailis), which obscure their complex identities. By offering an overview of their religious traditions, migration histories, and institutional presence, the article highlights how these communities challenge dominant frameworks within both regional histories and the academic study of Islam. In doing so, it contributes to broader discussions in religious studies around pluralism, identity, and the intersections of race, religion, and belonging in postcolonial contexts—key concerns for scholars of religion today.

‫يختلف‬‫ الناس‬ ‫في‬ ‫كون‬ ‫ما‬ ‫يتكلّم‬ ‫به‬ ‫التّونسيون‬ ‫لغة‬ ‫أو‬ ‫لھجة‬ ‫‪.‬‬‫وقد‬‫تح‬‫ّم‬‫س ‬‫الكثير‬ ‫من‬ ‫األكاديميين‬ ‫‪‬‬‫منذ‬ ‫أوائل‬ ‫سبعينيات‬ ‫القرن‬ ‫الماضي‬ ‫إلى‬‫كونھا ‬‫لغة‬ ‫وعملوا‬ ‫على‬ ‫استجالء‬ ‫قواعدھا‬ ‫كما‬ ‫اعتمدھا‬ ‫الكثير‬ ‫من‬‫الكتّاب ‬‬‫في‬ ‫كتاباتھم‪،‬‬ ‫غير‬ ‫أنّھم‬ ‫لم‬ ‫يختلفوا‬ ‫جميعا‬ ‫على‬ ‫ثراء‬ ‫ھذه‬ ‫اللّغة‬ ‫‪/‬‬‫اللّھجة‬‫وعلى‬ ‫حضور‬ ‫مؤ‬‫ثرات‬‫ و موروثات‬ ‫لغوية‬ ‫عديدة‬ ‫فيھا‬ .

"This volume investigates the rich spectrum of religious practices and beliefs at Carthage from its foundation until the end of Roman rule. Essays analyse the metropolis's Phoenician, Punic, and Graeco-Roman cults (all exhibiting a remarkable degree of assimilation and amalgamation), mystery cults, Judaism, and Manichaeism. A majority of essays comprehensively examine Christianity's development (including persecution, martyrdom, Montanism, and Donatism) within Carthage's multi-cultural environment. Utilizing methodologies from popular culture studies, biblical exegesis, cultural studies, and archaeology, contributors cover such innovative topics as: polytheistic religiosity; Jewish identity and devotional life based on a recently discovered ancient synagogue near Carthage; and challenges experienced by St. Augustine as a guest-preacher to rambunctious congregations at Carthage"-- Provided by publisher

The site of Halban, located 35 km to the west of the capital city Muscat (Sultanate of Oman), was first mentioned in 1998. The site comprises 33 well-preserved monumental stone funerary structures situated on a limestone terrace between the Al-Batinah coastal plain and the Al-Hajar Al-Gharbi mountains. Most of these tombs date back to the 3rd millennium BCE and are characterized by their substantial diameter, considerable remaining height, and noticeable variability in construction techniques and external polishing. This contribu- tion presents the preliminary results of the excavations carried out in 2023 and 2024, which reveal a complex palimpsest of continuity and reuse at a strategic location. This position enabled the connection of inland oases with coastal communities and allowed for the interception of major short- and long-distance trade routes during the 3rd millennium BCE.

This article examines the East African experience of the 1875–1876 Egyptian invasion of part of the Sultanate of Zanzibar and its interpretation as preserved in written sources. The key part of this article's argument addresses important questions posed by global history, namely: what was the image of the modernizing world from its peripheries? How was the information upon which it was built spread, hierarchized, and interpreted?, The author analyzes the traces of the invasion left in Zanzibar's later historical memory, which he compares with the known facts concerning the course and reception of the Egyptian actions. The article strives to embed the conclusions thus reached in its diachronic analysis. It also uses explanatory models (referred to as conspiracy theories) to understand the population's political mood and its access to information about the international situation. The initial premise for creating conspiracy theories, the author argues, was the contradiction between the image of Egypt as a strong Muslim state and a potential anti-imperial ally, rooted in the minds of the Sultan of Zanzibar's Muslim subjects and in the practices of the occupying forces.

At the dawn of the modern era, the Islamic world faced an overwhelming wave of colonial expansion, as European powers sought to dominate vital maritime routes and commercial hubs across the East, aiming to control global trade and natural resources. The western Indian Ocean—comprising the coasts of the Arabian Gulf, the Arabian Peninsula, western India, and eastern Africa—became a major theatre of this imperial contest, as vast areas fell under Portuguese domination for more than a century. Yet, divine providence granted this region enlightened leadership embodied in the Imams of Oman from the Yaʿrubi dynasty, who confronted the colonial advance with a comprehensive liberation project that reshaped the geopolitical balance in the western Indian Ocean and inaugurated a new era of regional stability, prosperity, and sovereignty. This study examines Oman’s foreign policy during the reign of Imam Saif bin Sultan al-Yaʿrubi (1692–1711 CE) as a distinguished model of Islamic leadership that successfully employed naval and diplomatic power to achieve regional peace and security while consolidating Oman’s independence in the face of European expansionism. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical methodology, drawing upon historical documents, maps, and primary and secondary sources to uncover the intellectual and strategic foundations of Omani foreign policy during this pivotal period and to assess its political, military, and economic outcomes across the broader Indian Ocean region. The first section explores Imam Saif bin Sultan’s policy of consolidating security and promoting peace throughout the western Indian Ocean through a comprehensive strategic vision grounded in the unification of the Omani interior and the enhancement of the state’s maritime and commercial capabilities. The second section analyzes the outcomes of this policy, which combined firmness and pragmatism in confronting colonial powers, as the Imam pursued a systematic offensive strategy aimed at liberating Portuguese strongholds and securing international navigation and free trade. The study concludes that the era of Imam Saif bin Sultan marked a strategic turning point in Omani foreign policy, transforming the state from a defensive actor into a proactive regional power. His leadership institutionalized the principles of maritime sovereignty, preventive diplomacy, and regional balance in an era marked by intense global competition. Furthermore, this Omani experience provides valuable insights into the enduring concept of peace through strength and exemplifies an early form of ethical realism in Arab-Islamic political thought and practice. Keywords: Imam Saif bin Sultan al-Yaʿrubi, foreign policy, the Portuguese, western Indian Ocean, Omani naval power.