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<rdf:Description rdf:about="https://stage.openvirtualworlds.org/omeka/items/show/3997">
    <dcterms:title><![CDATA[Gereza Fort - Kilwa Kisiwani - Tanzania]]></dcterms:title>
    <dcterms:subject><![CDATA[Intangible Heritage]]></dcterms:subject>
    <dcterms:description><![CDATA[The Old Fort or Gereza (prison) in Kilwa Kisiwani situated along the coast of southern Tanzania was built by the Portuguese in 1505. This build which has two towers were meant to protect the interest of Portuguese after they had conquered Kilwa during the early 16th century. However, the Portuguese did not stay long, and they abandoned it within 10years of habitation leaving it for use by the Arabs. The gereza is one of the still very firm monuments in Kilwa Kisiwani making a World Heritage Site since 1981. Currently a part of this building serves as a community museum. The ruins of the Gereza Fort are situated on Kilwa Kisiwani, a small, low-lying island off the East coast of Tanzania. It represents one of the two remains of the largest East African ports from the 11th to the 16th. The evidence of the dominance of Swahili coastal culture, the Islamisation of East Africa and the extensive and prosperous Indian Ocean trade networks. Today, the remains originally built of coral stones bonded together with lime mortar located along the coast are critically exposed to flooding, erosion from storm surges and encroaching (mangrove) vegetation. On several locations along the shore of Kilwa Kisiwani, artefacts (beads, coins, ceramics, etc.) are being eroded by the sea-water movements. Only a small part of the once extensive cities has been excavated, and the remains could be lost before they have ever been recorded if rising sea levels flood the islands. This means that communities would have to move, and their way of life, cultural traditions and practices would be lost forever. The site also houses one of the longest-established Islamic education centres on the east coast of Africa. Flooding and collapse of structures would mean relocation for the school. The remains in immediate structural vulnerability include the Great Mosque, the palace of Husuni Kubwa and the Portuguese Fort. Within the environment, rising sea level will also mean contamination of groundwater thus affecting trees such as the baobab that represents the spiritual well-being of the local people. Tanzania is rich in archaeological sites throughout. With evidence of past prehistoric and historic activity preserved in structures and art, some of which has been investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.]]></dcterms:description>
    <dcterms:source><![CDATA[reconstructions]]></dcterms:source>
    <dcterms:date><![CDATA[2022]]></dcterms:date>
    <dcterms:license><![CDATA[In Copyright (InC)]]></dcterms:license>
    <dcterms:type><![CDATA[Reconstruction]]></dcterms:type>
    <dcterms:identifier><![CDATA[1513]]></dcterms:identifier>
    <dcterms:spatial><![CDATA[current,-8.957484315253058,39.52820777893067;]]></dcterms:spatial>
</rdf:Description></rdf:RDF>