Oral history is not just a method of research—it is a bridge between generations 1 . In places like Zanzibar, where much historical knowledge lives in memory rather than in writing, oral interviews are an essential archive of culture, identity, and lived experience. Zanzibar has produced distinguished scholars, yet many of their insights and first-hand reflections remain undocumented. Among them, Professor Abdul Sheriff 2 stands out as a leading authority on the Swahili Coast and Indian Ocean histories. Having contributed extensively to scholarship and international discourse, he has reached the mature years of a long and eminent career. Still, through conversation, he continues to shareprofound, unpublished insights—reflections shaped by decades of research, fieldwork, and sustained engagement with Zanzibar’s past.

This proposal seizes a rare and urgent moment: to document and preserve the invaluable spoken reflections of a leading historian for future generations. It is also a rare chance for young historians and the wider community to hear how historical interpretations evolve over time. By bringing Sheriff into dialogue with new generations, we hope to highlight the dynamic nature of historical analysis—how understandings shift as scholars reflect and re-interpret their own work.

Through recorded interviews in Zanzibar and Dar- es Salaam, this project will preserve Sheriff’s voice and legacy, while establishing a digital and archival platform that promotes historical literacy, counters misinformation, and strengthens Zanzibar’s cultural heritage infrastructure.