Lets Talk African History: The Swahili Coast

[Bawon Samedi]

Found this to be a good read.
http://www.arkeologi.uu.se/digitalAssets/32/32403_3chami.pdf

 

[KOohbt]

Swahili architecture is interesting. I usually favor Akan architecture but I like what they did with their materials. Of course Kemet goes with out saying as outstanding with its monuments, so I don't even add then into the discussion.

 

[Bawon Samedi]

Like I said we definitely have evidence of Swahili merchants reaching China. Here is additional info from this book.

China's Resource Diplomacy in Africa: Powering Development?

 

[MajorVitaman]

another goat thread by @KidStranglehold

I can not contribute much that hasn’t been said already but just did you guys know ''Swahil(i)'' and “Sahel” share the same Arabic root meaning coast. Sahel being seen as the southern ''coast'' of the Sahara desert.

@KidStranglehold

 

[Misreeya]

No doubt about it they will attempt to come back with the bull, but the one thing that I have noticed is that when White people can no longer disprove something about Black people they will then say that it is not important. That statement right there shows you that they realize that some accomplishment is actually that of Black people. I am noticing this more and more in discussions about Egypt. DNA is proving that Afrocentric people were right the whole time. And the kicker is that the Egyptians were not Arab, Ethiopian or Somalian either. So that really put White people in a no win situation.

Since i am northern sudanese person and personally know people that still speak those related ancient languages and related dialects so we have to agree to disagree with your last statement in regards to the people of the ancient Nile Valley civilization , but let's stick with the main topic.

 

[MajorVitaman]

Just in time @Misreeya with the

Spoiler

Spoiler

 

[Misreeya]

Just in time @Misreeya with the

Spoiler

Spoiler

I am here to bring you back to perspective and reality, love.


Take care


Cheers.

 

[Bawon Samedi]

Finally... This is the type of shyt I've been looking for. The whole Persian dynasty finding Kilwa seems to be a bunch of

The Kilwa Chronicle is the name of a collected genealogy of the sultans who ruled the Swahili culture from Kilwa. Two texts, one in Arabic and one in Portuguese, were written in the early 1500s, and together they provide a glimpse into the history of the Swahili coast, with particular emphasis on that of Kilwa Kisiwani and its sultans of the Shirazi dynasty. Archaeological excavations at Kilwa and elsewhere have led to a reappraisal of these documents, and it is clear that, as is typical with historical records, the texts are not to be completely trusted: both versions were written or edited with political intent.

Regardless of what we today consider the reliability of the documents, they were used as manifestos, created from oral traditions by rulers who followed the Shirazi dynasty to legitimize their authority. Scholars have come to recognize the chronicle's semi-mythical aspect, and the Bantu roots of the Swahili language and culture have become less clouded by the Persian mythologies.

What is the Genealogy of the Shirazi Sultans of the Swahili Coast?

@Akan

 

[Samori Toure]

Finally... This is the type of shyt I've been looking for. The whole Persian dynasty finding Kilwa seems to be a bunch of


What is the Genealogy of the Shirazi Sultans of the Swahili Coast?

@Akan

I am not as well versed on the Swahili Coast culture as I am on say the Mandingos of the Kingdom of Mali. Many of the other posters on this site are far more knowledgeable about the Bantu civilization of that area.

 

[Grano-Grano]

It wasn't just the Swahili Coast eating. Somalia was in the mix heavily more than even Ethiopians. We have a thousand miles coastline.

 

[Bawon Samedi]

I am not as well versed on the Swahili Coast culture as I am on say the Mandingos of the Kingdom of Mali. Many of the other posters on this site are far more knowledgeable about the Bantu civilization of that area.

I tagged you because I remember you talking about Arabs/Europeans trying to not give credit to the Bantus of that area.

 

[Bawon Samedi]

I didn't even know I had this gem on my computer(I be downloading so many Pdfs didnt even realize it was a FULL book)! So far very good read.

 

[Bawon Samedi]

 

[Bawon Samedi]

I embarked at Maqdashaw [Mogadishu] for the Sawahil [Swahili] country, with the object of visiting the town of Kulwa [Kilwa, Quiloa] in the land of the Zanj.

We came to Mambasa [Mombasa], a large island two days' journey by sea from the Sawihil country. It possesses no territory on the mainland. They have fruit trees on the island, but no cereals, which have to be brought to them from the Sawahil. Their food consists chiefly of bananas and fish.The inhabitants are pious, honourable, and upright, and they have well-built wooden mosques.

-Ibn Bhattuta


Also I want everyone to feel free to use my "Lets Talk African History" to get info because thats what they are for.

 

[Bawon Samedi]

Descriptions of the Swahili States by the Portuguese

Kilwa

Going along the coast from this town of Mozambique, there is an island hard by the main- land which is called Kilwa, in which is a Moorish town with many fair houses of stones and mortar, with many windows after our fashion, very well arranged in streets, with many flat roofs... Around it are streams and orchards and fruit-gardens with many channels of sweet water. It has a Moorish king over it. From this place they trade with Sofala, whence they bring back gold....Before the King our Lord [of Portugal] sent out his expedition to discover India, the Moors of Sofala, Cuama, Angoya, and Mozambique were all subject to the king of Kilwa, who was the most mighty king among them. And in this town was great plenty of gold, as no ships passed towards Sofala without first coming to this island. Of the Moors there are some fair and some black, they are finely clad in many rich garments of gold and silk and cotton, and the women as well; also with much gold and silver in chains and bracelets, which they wear on their legs and arms, and many jeweled earrings in their ears. These Moors speak Arabic and follow the creed of the Alcoran [Quran].

Sofala

[T]hey came in small vessels named zambucos from the kingdoms of Kilwa, Mombasa, and Malindi, bringing many cotton cloths, some spotted and others white and blue, also some of silk, and many small beads, gray, red, and yellow, which things come to the said kingdoms from great king- dom of Cambay [India]. . . . The Moors of Sofala kept these wares and sold them afterwards to the heathen of the Kingdom of Benametapa, who came thither laden with gold which they gave in exchange for the said cloths without weighing it. These Moors collect also great store of ivory which they find hard by Sofala, and this they also sell in the Kingdom of Cambay. . . . These Moors are black, and some of them tawny; some of them speak Arabic, but the more part use the language of the country. They clothe themselves from the waist down with cotton and silk cloths, and other cloths they wear over their shoulders like capes, and turbans on their heads. Some of them wear small caps dyed in grain in chequers [checks] and other woolen clothes in many tints.

-Duarte Barbosa