The influence of Persian literature on global literary traditions has been a subject of interest, yet the impact of Omar Khayyam, the celebrated Persian poet and philosopher, on East African Swahili literature remains underexplored. This study focuses on Shaaban Robert, a prominent Tanzanian writer and poet dubbed the “father of modern Swahili literature,” who translated Khayyam’s rubaiyat into Swahili as Omar Khayyam kwa Kiswahili in 1952. Employing a descriptive-analytical methodology alongside field research, including interviews with Swahili literary scholars in Dar es Salaam, this paper investigates the philosophical and literary influence of Khayyam on Robert. The research question centers on the factors and mechanisms through which Khayyam’s poetry shaped Robert’s works and worldview. The study reveals that Robert, inspired by Edward Fitzgerald’s English translation, found in Khayyam’s rubaiyat a philosophical resonance with his own concerns about life, death, and social critique. His translation not only enriched Swahili literature but also introduced a critical and existential discourse, challenging colonial cultural narratives. By comparing selected poems, the study highlights thematic similarities, such as the transience of life and the critique of societal hypocrisy, demonstrating Khayyam’s lasting impact on Robert’s poetic style and Swahili literary traditions. This research underscores the role of literary translation in fostering cross-cultural dialogues