Muslim Cultures of the Indian Ocean Diversity and Pluralism, Past and Present Edited by Stéphane Pradines and Farouk Topan Genealogy and Knowledge in Muslim Societies Understanding the Past Edited by Sarah Bowen Savant and Helena de Felipe in association with THE AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations 2023 Chapter 3 Muslim Identities of the Indian Ocean: the Ibadi Al Bu Saʾid of Oman during the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries Beatrice Nicolini Introduction Since the end of the eighteenth century the Ibadi Al Bu Saʾid of Oman were recognised as the protagonists of an important empowering process towards the mercantile expansion on the oceanic coasts of Africa; therefore, there developed within the Indian Ocean cultural and religious connections represented by continuous migratory flows. The present study aims to re-read Asian groups movements and presences along the Swahili coast as well as their potential influences on local cultures, religions and societies. It should be noted that ethnocentric views – especially Eurocentric ones – have informed numerous studies for a long time, and sometimes still do. In this regard, most of the Western-orientated studies and analysis on the role of Afro-Asian littorals and of their people throughout history often focused on external menaces, interests and priorities. Accordingly, within an interlinked cluster like the Swahili littorals, could we have been so sure on the effects of early globalisation in this vast area? Moreover, could we have been sure about a series of enthusiastic and lyrical images of a sea-life full of different people, ideas, goods and religions, exchanging and living together in a