Malindi Quarter · Stone Town
Malindi (Mnara) Mosque
Rising above Stone Town's old dhow harbour, the Mnara Mosque carries one of the rarest silhouettes on the Swahili Coast: a conical minaret shared by only three mosques in all of East Africa.
Present building
1834–35 CE
Known for
1 of 3 conical minarets in East Africa
Location
Malindi Quarter
Status
Active & visitable
History & Significance
Layers of Stone Town history in one building
Also known as the Mnara Mosque — "mnara" meaning tower or minaret in Swahili — this building takes its more common name, Malindi Mosque, from the harborside quarter of Stone Town where it stands. Accounts of its origins differ: some travel guides trace a mosque on this site to the 15th century, while historians place an earlier structure in the 17th century or before.
What's better documented is the building you see today: constructed in 1250 AH (1834–35 CE) by Muhammad bin Abdulkadir al-Mansaby, a merchant from the Benadir coast of present-day Somalia, then enlarged twice more, in 1841 and again in 1890, as the surrounding Malindi quarter grew alongside Zanzibar's trade with the wider Indian Ocean world.
Its defining feature is architectural: a conical minaret set on a square platform, a form found at only two other mosques anywhere in East Africa — making the skyline above the old dhow harbour instantly recognisable.
What to expect
- A distinctive cone-shaped minaret, unlike the square towers typical elsewhere in the region.
- A short walk from Stone Town's old dhow harbour and fish market.
- Narrow, atmospheric streets typical of the Malindi quarter surrounding it.
Gallery
Photos coming soon
Plan Your Visit
Visiting information
Dress code
Shoulders and knees covered; a headscarf for women is appreciated near the prayer hall.
Hours & fees
Open outside prayer times; a small voluntary donation is customary. Confirm current hours locally before you go.
Getting there
Central Stone Town, an easy walk from Forodhani Gardens and the old dhow harbour.
Nearby
Round out your visit
- The old dhow harbour & fish market
- House of Wonders & the Old Fort
- Forodhani Gardens at sunset