Kilwa Chronicle: Oral History of the Swahili Culture

The Kilwa Chronicle is what scholars call two 16th century documents, written forms of the oral history of the Swahili culture sultans in the ancient town of Kilwa Kisiwani.

Although like many oral histories passed down for generations before being written down, the Kilwa chronicle isn't completely supported by archaeological evidence: that fact doesn't make it any the less interesting, and scholars agree that the Kilwa Chronicle is a significant piece of the medieval history of the Swahili coast.

• Read about the Kilwa Chronicle, and what oral history says about Swahili culture;
• and compare it to:
• the Swahili Culture Chronology, what archaeologists and historians have pieced together so far