History of Africa · The History of Africa Podcast

Season 6 Episode 14: The Unstable 15th Century Part 1: Age of the Viziers Arrives

·19 min·1 clip

The vizier's power grew to challenge the sultan, marking the start of a new era in Kilwa's history.

This episode explores the political instability of 15th-century Kilwa, focusing on a generational feud between the Wasil and Mahdi families that led to repeated coups. It culminates in the story of two brothers, a vizier and an amir, who used their bureaucratic positions to challenge the sultan's power, marking the dawn of a new era where administrators could rival traditional nobility.

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