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New Horizons in Islamic Archaeology: Latest Research on Medieval Islamic Sites in Southeast Ethiopia

2025.11.30 update

Islam spread in Ethiopia along the trade routes connecting ports on the Gulf of Aden with central Ethiopia. In August 2023, archaeologist Hitoshi Endo (ILCAA) and cultural anthropologist Chikage Oba (Arsi University, Ethiopia) discovered a historical site in Sakate, West Hararghe Zone, Oromia Region, southeastern Ethiopia, centered around a mosque, one of the largest in sub-Saharan Africa before the 19th century. The site is located far from the aforementioned trade routes and has not been subject to academic research to date. Endo and Oba re-examined Islamic historical sites in southeastern Ethiopia from September to October 2025. At this presentation, historian Hiroki Ishikawa (ILCAA) will first provide an overview of the Islamic history of southeastern Ethiopia. Next, Endo will explain the results of the re-investigation of the Sakate site and report on the remains of several mosques discovered during archaeological surveys in the Shebelle River basin.

Details

Date2026/01/31(Sat) 14:00-16:00

VenueOnline/301 : Seminar Room, ILCAA

Language:Japanese

Admission:Free

Registration:

Pre-registration is required by 12:00 PM JST (3:00 PM GMT) on Friday, January 30, 2026.

Registration form: https://x.gd/Qwpzi

Contactishikawa[at]tufs.ac.jp(※Change [at] to @)

Organized byILCAA Joint Research Group "A Study on the Islamic Material Culture in Medieval Ethiopia"; ILCAA (Interdisciplinary Research Team); TUFiSCo

Program 

14:00-14:05 Opening Remarks Hiroki ISHIKAWA(ILCAA)
14:05-14:25 A Brief History of Islam in Southeast Ethiopia: Focusing on the Changes of Ethnic Groups Living in the Region   Hiroki ISHIKAWA(ILCAA)
14:25 - 15:15 Report on the Field Survey of Medieval Islamic Sites in Southeastern Ethiopia (2025) Hitoshi ENDO(ILCAA)                  
15:15 - 15:25 Break
15:25 - 15:55 General Discussion
15:55 - 16:00 Closing Remarks Hiroki ISHIKAWA(ILCAA)