Profile
Abdul Sheriff is a historian and academic based in Tanzania. His educational journey took him from Zanzibar to the United States, where he completed his bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of California, Los Angeles, before earning his PhD from the School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS), University of London.Sheriff's extensive career includes teaching at the University of Dar es Salaam, serving as Advisor & Principal Curator of the Zanzibar Museums, and leading the Zanzibar Indian Ocean Research Institute. His work, which delves into the Dhow cultures of the Indian Ocean, Zanzibar's history and culture, and the conservation of Stone Town, has had a profound impact on understanding the Swahili coast and the broader Indian Ocean region. His contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Prince Claus Award. Among his notable publications are "Slaves, Spices & Ivory in Zanzibar" and "The Dhow Cultures of the Indian Ocean – Cosmopolitanism, Culture & Islam," reflecting his commitment to exploring the interconnectedness of cultures and history across the Indian Ocean.
