Date: 17/08/2026
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In the western Indian Ocean lies Comoros, an island nation whose history has been shaped by Africa, the Arab world and the wider Indian Ocean trading network.
In July 2026, Comoros reached a remarkable milestone: it received its first inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The property, called The Medinas of the Historic Sultanates of the Comoros, consists of six historic towns. Their urban origins reach back at least to the 11th century, while several developed into city-states around the 14th and 15th centuries.
The old medinas contain stone houses, palaces, public spaces and defensive structures. Their architecture also reflects centuries of movement and exchange across the Indian Ocean.
What makes the story especially beautiful is that this is not heritage frozen in the past. UNESCO notes that many social traditions and practices connected with these historic towns remain alive today.
For Comoros, 2026 is therefore more than a date on a heritage list.
It is a moment when a little-known chapter of island history has received a place on the world’s cultural map.
Rajat Chandra Sarmah
Guwahati, Assam, India
Email: rajatchandrasarmah@gmail.com
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