Kizimkazi Mosque, Mosque in Dimbani, Zanzibar Islands, Tanzania

Kizimkazi Dimbani Mosque is a coral stone building on the southern tip of Unguja, entered through a courtyard along its eastern side. In the main prayer hall, three columns run north to south and separate the mihrab, a trefoil arch added in the 18th century. Column bases and other carved details date from the 12th century.

The structure dates from 1107 and ranks among the oldest Islamic buildings on the East African coast. Major reconstruction and expansion took place during the 18th century.

The name Kizimkazi comes from the nearby medieval walled town, though the mosque stands in Dimbani. Its trefoil mihrab, built in the 18th century, set a pattern followed by 19th-century Zanzibari mosques. The building is still in use and was listed as a National Historic Site.

Visitors should remove shoes and wear clothing that covers the shoulders and legs out of respect. The building remains actively used for daily prayers, so plan your visit accordingly.

The building holds carved inscriptions in Kufic and Arabic script from different periods of its existence. These stone texts tell the story of its founding and the major changes it underwent over centuries.