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List of sultans on the Comoros

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Sultan Said Ali bin Said Omar of Grande Comore (1897)

Several sultanates on the Comoros, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, were founded after the introduction of Islam into the area in the 15th century. Other titles could also be fani, mfaume and ntibe. Unlike sultans in many other Arab nations, these sultans had little real power. At one time alone on the island of Ndzuwani or Nzwani (today Anjouan), 40 fanis and other chiefs shared power of the island; Ngazidja (today Grand Comore) was at many times divided into 11 sultanates. This article addresses the major sultanates.

The term Shirazis (derived from the former Persian capital Shiraz) is a reference to Iranian roots, in some dynasties. The sultans of Hamamvu (Washirazi sultans) are a surviving dynasty that claims origins in Persia and carries an extant connection to the Washirazi people of the East African Coast.

The following five cities have been collectively proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage site:

Sultans of Ndzuwani (Anjouan)

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# Name[1] Reign Start[1] Reign End[1] Notes
1 Muhammad I c. 1500 c. 1506 Founder
2 Hassan c. 1506 ? -
3 Muhammad II ? ? –
4 Msindra ? ?
5 Alimah I ? c. 1590 First female sultan of Anjouan. Otherwise known as Halima.
6 Sayid Alawi c. 1590 c. 1605 Regent
7 Hussein c. 1605 c. 1610 –
8 Sayid Idarus c. 1610 c. 1619 Regent
9 Sayid Abu Bakr c. 1619 c. 1632 Regent
10 Alimah II c. 1632 c. 1676 Second female sultan of Anjouan. Also known as Halima II.
11 Alimah III c. 1676 c. 1711 Third female sultan of Anjouan. Also known as Halima III.
12 Sheikh Salim c. 1711 1741 –
13 Sheikh Ahmad 1741 1782 Also known as Said Ahmad.
14 Abdallah I 1782 1788 –
15 Alimah IV 1788 1792 Fourth female sultan of Anjouan. Also known as Halimah IV.
– Abdallah I 1792 1796 Second reign
16 Alawi I 1796 1816 Also known as Mwinye Fani
17 Abdallah II bin Alawi 1816 1832 –
18 Ali 1832 1833 Also known as Ali bin Salim
– Abdallah II bin Alawi 1833 1836 Second reign
19 Alawi II 1836 1837 Also known as Saidi Alawi bin Abdallah
20 Salim I 1837 1852 Also known as Salim bin Alawi
21 Abdallah III 1852 February 1891 Also known as Saidi Abdallah bin Salim. The Sultanate of Anjouan became part of the Mayotte Protectorate in 1866.[1]
22 Salim II February 1891 2 April 1891 Also known as Salim bin Abdallah
23 Said Omar 2 April 1891 14 April 1892 Also known as Saidi Omar bin Said Hasan
24 Said Ali 14 April 1892 25 July 1912 Also known as Said Ali bin Said Omar

Sultans of Mayotte

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Mayotte was conquered by the Sultanate of Anjouan in 1835, after which it was ruled by Anjouani qadis (governors) until 1841 when it became a protectorate under the French.[2]

# Name[2] Reign Start[2] Reign End[2] Notes
1 Hassan I c. 1515 c. 1530
2 Muhammad c. 1530 c. 1550
3 Isa c. 1550 c. 1590
4 Amina c. 1590 c. 1596 Queen Regent
5 Bwana Fuma ibn Ali c. 1596 c. 1620 Regent
6 Ali I c. 1620 c. 1640
7 Umar c. 1640 c. 1680
8 Ali II c. 1680 c. 1700
9 Aisa c. 1700 c. 1714 Queen Regent
10 Monavo Fani c. 1714 c. 1720 Queen Regent
11 Abu Bakr c. 1720 1727
12 Salim I 1727 1752
13 Bwana Kombo I 1752 1790
14 Salim II 1790 1807
15 Salih 1807 1817
19 Ahmad 1817 1829
20 Bwana Kombo II 1829 1832
21 Andrianametaka 1832 19 November 1835
– Umar 19 November 1835 c. 1838 Anjouan Qadi
– Adriantsuli c. 1838 25 March 1841 Anjouan Qadi

Sultans on Ngazidja (Grande Comore)

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Sultans of Bambao

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Styled mfalme (plural wafalme).[3]

No. Name[3] Notes
Inya Mwatsoa Pirusa dynasty[3]
1 Ngoma Mrahafu
2 Mwasi Pirusa
3 Fum Mbavu Inkwaba
4 Mwenye Mji wa Mwenye Mambo
5 Inye wa Mantsi
6 Mwenye Mji wa Mwanze
7 Tambavu mna Muhame wa Saidi
8 Tambavu Inkwaba
Inya Fey wa Mbaya dynasty[3]
9 Fum Nau wa Kori Dozi He was the first ruler of Bamboa to be given the title (Sultan) Tibe, i.e. Paramount ruler of the island.[3]
Inya Mwatsoa Pirusa dynasty (Restored)[3]
10 Mwenye Mji wa Mvunza Panga
11 Mla Nau Second ruler with the hegemonic title Sultan tibe.[3]
12 Fozi Wa
13 Suja Oma Inkwaba
14 Nyau wa Faume Only female sultan of Bambao.[3]
15 Bamba Oma wa Ju Mamba First reign.
16 Ahmed bin Shekhe Ngome First reign. The fourth ruler to styled Sultan tibe.[3] Born in c. 1793 and died in 1875.[3]
* Bamba Oma wa Ju Mamba Second reign.
* Ahmed bin Shekhe Ngome Second reign.
17 Saidi Bakari
* Ahmed bin Shekhe Ngome Third reign.
18 Mwenye Mambo
19 Ju Mamba
20 Mohamed bin Ahmed First reign.
* Ahmed bin Shekhe Ngome Fourth reign. Also known as tibe X.[3]
21 Abdallah bin Saidi Hamza First reign.
* Mohamed bin Ahmed Second reign.
22 Mwenye Mji First reign.
* Abdallah bin Saidi Hamza Second reign.
23 Saidi Bakari bin Ahmed First reign.
* Mwenye Mji Second reign.
* Abdallah bin Saidi Hamza Third reign.
* Saidi Bakari bin Ahmed Second reign.
24 Saidi Ali bin Saidi Omar Reigned c. 1875–1886.[3] Also known as tibe XV.[3] Born in c. 1856 and died in 1916.[3]

Sultans of Itsandra

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Styled "Mfaume" (in Shingazidja) or Mfalme (in Kiswahili). All rulers were part of the Inya Fey wa Mbaya dynasty.[3] Reign dates are unknown.

No. Name[3] Notes[3]
1 Fey Owa Mbaya
2 Fey Mwenza
3 Fey Jumbe
4 Ju Mwamba Pirusa
5 Zombe Ilingo
6 Nguzo wa Inehili
7 Tibe wa Kanzu
8 Mkongo
9 Mna Musa Hibu
10 Muhammadi Saidi
11 Mvunza Panga
12 Fey Beja wa Wabeja Only female sultan of Itsandra.
13 Fum Nau wa Kori Dozi Sultan of both Bambao and Itsandra. Also known as tibe I.
14 Fey Fumu First reign. Also known as tibe III.
15 Bwana Fumu First reign. Also known as tibe V.
* Fey Fumu Second reign. Also known as tibe VI.
* Bwana Fumu Second reign. Also known as tibe VII.
* Fey Fumu Third reign. Also known as tibe VIII.
16 Fum Mbavu Also known as tibe IX.
17 Musa Fumu wa Fey Fumu First reign. Also known as tibe XI.
18 Tibe Bamba First reign. Also known as tibe XII.
* Musa Fumu wa Fey Fumu Second reign. Also known as tibe XIII.
* Tibe Bamba Second reign. Also known as tibe XIV.
* Musa Fumu wa Fey Fumu Third reign.
* Tibe Bamba Third reign.
* Musa Fumu wa Fey Fumu Fourth reign. Died in 1883.
* Tibe Bamba Fourth reign.
19 Kalega

Sultans of Mitsamihuli

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Styled "Mfaume/Mfalme". All rulers were part of the Inya Mwatsoa Pirusa dynasty.[3] Reign dates are unknown.

No. Name[3] Notes
1 Mahame Msahi
2 Fozi wa Mahame
3 Mbantsi
4 Ju Mambu Madi wa Musa Fumu
5 Jumbe Fumu Mfaume wa Domba Co-rulers. First reign of Jumbe Fumu Mfaume wa Domba.
6 Kori Dazi
* Jumbe Fumu Mfaume wa Domba Co-rulers. Second reign of Jumbe Fumu Mfaume wa Domba.
7 Tambavu wa Jumbe Fumu
8 Fozi Wa
9 Suja Fumu Mbamba Co-rulers.
10 Mba Fumu wa Jumbe Fumu
11 Msa Fumu wa Tambwe Co-rulers.
12 Jumbe Fumu wa Jumbe Mfumu
13 Mbandhi wa Bwana Haji
14 Abdallah bin Ahmed Co-rulers.
15 Mbandhi wa Bwana Haji
16 Bwana Fumu Reign ended around 1886.

Sultans of Washili

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Styled "Mfaume/Mfalme". Rulers were part of the Inya Maoni Yambao and Inya Fu Wemba dynasties.[3]

# Name[3] Notes[3]
1 Mohama Mdume wa Beja
2 Fey Zinda wa Mawana
3 Fey Zinda wa Makasara
4 Tambwe Msa Fumu Co-rulers.
5 Tambwe wa Habadi
6 Jumbe Fumu wa Mlala Bwani
7 Tambwe No Fumu wa Mla Nau Born in 1735 and died in 1815. He reigned around 1760.
8 Ju Mwamba Mwenye Majini
9 Mba Fumu wa Suja Fumu Bamba Co-rulers.
10 Shekhe Salim
11 Mavunzanga
12 Tibe Mle
13 Abudu

Sultans of Bajini

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Styled "Mfaume/Mfalme"

# Name[3] Reign[3] Notes[3]
1 Mwenya Bamba I ?
2 Bamba Jumbe ?
3 Tambe Mbafu wa Fum Nau ?
4 Ju Mamba Oma wa Mla Nau ? Co-rulers.
5 Mwambatsi ?
6 Mwenye Bamba II ?
7 Bamba Oma ? Co-rulers.
8 Suja Oma wa Tambwe ?
9 Shekani ?
10 Fuma Oma ? Co-rulers.
11 Oma wa Dari ?–1884
12 Ja Mhaba ? First female sultan of Bajini.
13 Hashimu bin Ahmed ? First reign.
14 Hadija bint Ahmed ? Second female sultan of Bajini.
* Hashimu bin Ahmed ?–1886 Second reign.
– Interregnum 1886–1889
* Hashimu bin Ahmed 1889 Third reign.

Sultans of Hambuu

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Styled "Mfaume/Mfalme". All rulers were part of the Inya Mba Mro dynasty.[3] Reign dates are unknown.

# Name[3] Notes[3]
1 Beja Mbuyuni
2 Nau wa Migira
3 Nau wa Moro
4 Fumu Mau
5 Yasi Azu
6 Demani Mtango
7 Fumu Jimba wa Idimani
8 Madi Jimbwa wa Tangwe Co-rulers.
9 Dari wa Mla Nau
10 Jumbe Fumu wa Suja Oma Inkwaba
11 Suja Oma wa Tambwe
12 Mrunda Mijo Co-rulers.
13 Fey Mwando wa Tambwe
14 Bamba Oma wa Ju Mamba
15 Tambwe wa Hinye
16 Abudu bin Mohamed bin Sultani Co-rulers.
17 Bamba Oma wa Oma

Sultans of Hamahame

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Styled "Mfaume/Mfalme". Subordinated to Itsandra.[3] Reign dates unknown.

# Name[3]
1 Nye Hila
2 Haji wa No Fumu
3 Suja Oma Mshinda Kodo
4 Jumbe Fumu Madi
5 Bwana Haji Musa
6 Simai
7 Dari Oma
8 Fumu Oma wa Nasiri
9 Suja Oma wa Fumu
10 Mba Fumu wa Bwana Haji
11 Suja Oma Bwana

Sultans of Mbwankuu

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The sultan was also styled Mfaume/Mfalme; the only known incumbent (no dates) was: Bwana Fumu.[3]

Sultans of Mbude

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Sultans (also styled Mfaume/Mfalme). All rulers were part of the Inya Mwatsoa Udhiwa dynasty.[3] Reign dates are unknown.

Mbude was subordinated to Itsandra from c. 1860 to 1872 and again from 1873 to 1880.[3] It was subordinated to Bambao briefly from 1872 to 1873 and then again from 1880 to 1892.[3]

# Name[3]
1 Msa Mwinza
2 Bamba
3 Lwali
4 Jumbe Fumu wa Tambwe
5 Dari Mbamba
6 Mwandhi Oma wa Jumbe Fumu
7 Bamba Oma wa Suja Funu
8 Jumbe Fumu Mna Mango
9 Bamba wa Madi Jimba
10 Jumbe Fumu wa Sinai

Sultans of Domba

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The sultan was also styled Mfaume/Mfalme; the only known incumbent (no dates) was: Febeja Mambwe.[3]

Sultans of Mwali (Mohéli)

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# Name Picture Reign Birth–Death Notes
1 Abderremane I (Ramanetaka-Rivo) 1830–1842 ?–1842
2 Djoumbé Fatima bint Abderremane 1842–September 1865[3] c. 1836–1878 (age 41)
  • First female sultan of Mohéli.
  • Daughter of Abderremane.
  • Her mother, Ravao, ruled as regent from 1842 to 1847.[3]
  • Known as Raketaka Jombe Sudy before 1851.[3]
  • Known as Jumbe Fatima bint Abderremane from 1851 onwards.
  • First reign.
3 Mohamed bin Saidi Hamadi Makadara September 1865–1874[3] c. 1859–1874 (age 15)
  • Son of Djoumbé Fatima.
  • His mother ruled as regent from September 1865 to 1868, and again from January 1871 to 1874.[3]
  • Joseph-François Lambert ruled as regent from 1868 to January 1871.
* Djoumbé Fatima bint Abderremane 1874–1878 c. 1836–1878 (age 41)
  • Second reign.
4 Abderremane II bin Saidi Hamadi Makadara 1878–1885 c. 1860–1885 (age 15)
  • Son of Djoumbé Fatima.
5 Mohammed Shekhe 1885–1886 Born c. 1830
6 Marjani bin Abudu Shekhe 1886–1888 Born c. 1851
  • Mohéli was a French Protectorate from 1886 to 1889.
7 Salima Machamba bint Saidi Hamadi Makadara 1888–1909 1874–1964 (age 89)
  • Second female sultan of Mohéli.
  • Daughter of Djoumbé Fatima.
  • Never took office.[3]
  • Three regents ruled from 1888 to 1889: Fadeli bin Othman, Balia Juma (female regent) and Abudu Tsivandini.
  • Mahmudu bin Mohamed Makadara ruled as regent from 1889 to 1897. He was a son of Djoumbé Fatima and half-brother of Salima Machamba. He resigned in 1897 and died a year later.
  • Last Sultan before Mohéli became a colony of France in 1909.
  • Moheli was governed by French residents in Anjouan until 1912, afterwards being annexed by France.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Stewart, John (2006). African States and Rulers (third ed.). London: McFarland. pp. 19–20. ISBN 0-7864-2562-8.
  2. ^ a b c d Stewart, John (2006). African States and Rulers (3rd ed.). London: McFarland. p. 158. ISBN 0-7864-2562-8.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap "Njazidja (Grande Comore), French Comoros, Comoro Islands (Comoros) Coins and Rulers". www.chiefacoins.com. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  4. ^ "Five African queens you did not know existed - Page 3 of 6". Face2Face Africa. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
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