Final answer:
Farid ud-Din Attar is the actual author of The Conference of the Birds; the provided options are incorrect. Ibn Sina (Avicenna) is well-known for his contributions to various fields, but not as the author of that work. Our knowledge of East African cultures is largely based on the writings of Ibn Battuta.
Step-by-step explanation:
The author of The Conference of the Birds is Farid ud-Din Attar, who is not among the options provided. Therefore, the question appears to contain a mistake as none of the options a) Rumi, b) Ibn Sina, c) Al-Ghazali, or d) Ibn Khaldun are the correct author. Ibn Sina, also known as Avicenna, is known for his works in philosophy, medicine, and other fields, but not for The Conference of the Birds. Regarding our knowledge about the cultures of East Africa, much of what we know comes from Ibn Battuta (answer choice D), a Moroccan explorer who travelled extensively across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia in the 14th century, documenting his journeys.