Shirazi people
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Swahili coast (mainly Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia, Comoros) | |
| Languages | |
| Swahili varieties, English, French | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly Sunni Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Swahili people, Afro-Iranians |
The Shirazi people, also known as Mbwera, are an ethnic group inhabiting the Swahili coast and the nearby Indian Ocean islands. They are particularly concentrated on the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Comoros.
A number of Shirazi legends proliferated along the East African coast, most involving a named or unnamed Persian prince marrying a Swahili princess. Modern academics reject the authenticity of the primarily Iranian origin claim, although recent genetic evidence points towards noticeable Iranian admixture. They point to the relative rarity of Iranian customs and speech, lack of documentary evidence of Shia Islam in the Muslim literature on the Swahili Coast, and instead a historic abundance of Sunni Arab-related evidence. The documentary evidence, like the archaeological, "for early Persian settlement is likewise completely lacking".
The Shirazi are notable for helping spread Islam on the Swahili Coast, their role in the establishment of the southern Swahili sultanates like Mozambique and Angoche, their influence in the development of the Swahili language, and their opulent wealth. The East African coastal area and the nearby islands served as their commercial base.