The Azanian Sea was founded in 2009 by Nathaniel Mathews as a web resource and online hub for information, inspiration and informed commentary on the African presence in the Indian Ocean. The name is derived from the famous 8th century travel document, Periplus of the Erythrean Sea and refers to the coastal areas of the Indian Ocean adjacent to Africa. The mission of The Azanian Sea is to provide high quality web content about Africa and the Indian Ocean and create spaces for cultural exchange and dialogue. The Indian Ocean has been called the 'cradle of globalization' and the blog reflects the complex mix of global and local cultures. Over the years, the blog has become a platform for theological and philosophical commentary on racism, whiteness, Christianity, Islam and world history.