The History of Khoja Ismailis of East Africa

By Zahir K. Dhalla

By the beginning of the 19th century, several score Indians, mostly fleeing a hard scrabble life of perennial droughts in Kutch-Kathiawar (in present-day Gujarat), began settling in maritime trade ports of East Africa, primarily Zanzibar. They were Khoja Ismailis who slowly but steadily grew large enough, perhaps a couple of hundred, to build the first Jamat Khana in Zanzibar in 1838. They continued to increase - at the same slow pace - until the end of the century when railways into the hinterland of East Africa began operating, attracting more and more Khoja Ismaili and other Indian settlers. This is the story of a semi-literate, indigent people, led by enterprising pioneers and guided by the Aga Khans, who went on to become literate and diversified, with women playing a vital role. With detailed index.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0CDNKT52V
• ISBN13: 9798856147338
• Release Date: August 2023
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 819 Pages
• Weight: 2.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.9" x 6.0"