Along the eastern coast of Africa, the Swahili have built a fascinating civilization shaped by centuries of trade, cultural exchange and the influence of Islam. From the 10th to the 15th centuries, dozens of prosperous stone-built cities flourished along the coast, before disappearing beneath the jungle and fading from history.
Today, archaeological excavations at Kilwa, in Tanzania, are helping to uncover this forgotten world. Once one of the most important Swahili city-states, Kilwa offers remarkable clues about the people who built these sophisticated coastal cities.
Through archaeology and new discoveries, this documentary explores the lost cities of the Swahili and sheds light on a remarkable chapter of East African history.
