Lets Talk African History: The Swahili Coast

[Swahili P'Bitek]

Ma

Can you tell me about the city of Malindi? And how much archaeological work is being done in Kenya regards to Swahili history? Tanzania seems to be doing a lot in that regard.

Malindi's relevance as a historical city in the country is still acknowledged, as it is the place where Vasco da Gama first set foot in when he got lost and ended up in Africa. It is also the home of Vasco da Gama Pillar and most importantly Gedi Ruins, which is an an abandoned city. Excavations started in about 1960s I think just before or after Kenya got independence. Now i think it's preserved as part of a national marine park. There are also other sites in malindi such as mosques built during the period which are under the national museums of kenya. Malindi was one of the main powerful coastal cities if i recall my history correctly and was at loggerheads with Mombasa during the time. If i remember more I''ll add.

 

[Bawon Samedi]

Ma

Malindi's relevance as a historical city in the country is still acknowledged, as it is the place where Vasco da Gama first set foot in when he got lost and ended up in Africa. It is also the home of Vasco da Gama Pillar and most importantly Gedi Ruins, which is an an abandoned city. Excavations started in about 1960s I think just before or after Kenya got independence. Now i think it's preserved as part of a national marine park. There are also other sites in malindi such as mosques built during the period which are under the national museums of kenya. Malindi was one of the main powerful coastal cities if i recall my history correctly and was at loggerheads with Mombasa during the time. If i remember more I''ll add.

Thanks. But is there any CURRENT archaeological work being done that you know of?

 

[Swahili P'Bitek]

No,

Thanks. But is there any CURRENT archaeological work being done that you know of?

No, I haven't heard of current archeological works happening. The thing is, those sites are pretty much tourist attractions so they are preserved. The last time I heard of archeological work being done around Malindi was marine archeology in about 2013/2014 involving retreival of a chinese nobleman's ship dating to the 1300's.

 

[Swahili P'Bitek]

Sorry i forgot to mention that some Italians in partnership with kenyan museums want to set up the first underwater museum in sub saharan Africa due to that chinese excavation. I dont know when it will take off though, but it was launched via an exhibition last year or last year but one. So works may be ongoing.

 

[Bawon Samedi]

Sorry i forgot to mention that some Italians in partnership with kenyan museums want to set up the first underwater museum in sub saharan Africa due to that chinese excavation. I dont know when it will take off though, but it was launched via an exhibition last year or last year but one. So works may be ongoing.

How is that gonna work. That seems expensive as fukk.

 

[Swahili P'Bitek]

How is that gonna work. That seems expensive as fukk.

I think it would work just like the underwater park in Grenada, where artefacts, sculptures etc found from digging up are posted/recreated and posted at a certain depth undersea. Then snorkelers and divers can dive to go see them or something like that.

 

[Warthog]

I was shocked to learn that the Swahili coast conducted trade with interior parts of Africa such as Congo. The akamba a kenyan eastern bantu community was also important in maintaining the main economic activity of the kingdom, trade, by acting as middlemen between the coast and interior parts of the country.

Source? Interested.

And are you an ethnic Swahili?

I don't think this counts as 100% proof but in the Eastern DRC Swahili is the main language.

 

[Bawon Samedi]

I don't think this counts as 100% proof but in the Eastern DRC Swahili is the main language.

Before the DRC became the DRC and was still under the Belgiums, many of the coastal Swahilis especially from Zanzibar worked with the Belgians prior to going to war against them. The spread of the Swahili language into Eastern Congo could be due to that.

 

[Warthog]

I love Swahili culture, language and history.
For at least ~2000 years they have traded with many different peoples and polities like the Romans, Indians, Persians, Chinese etc. Their cities and their trade during the 9th-15th centuries made Europe look like a back water.
Thank fukk that people are now starting to realise that the Swahili is a SSA civilisation not a Middle Eastern one.
May the Swahili and it's trade rise again!

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

Before the DRC became the DRC and was still under the Belgiums, many of the coastal Swahilis especially from Zanzibar worked with the Belgians prior to going to war against them. The spread of the Swahili language into Eastern Congo could be due to that.

Nah. Zanzibaris and Omanis slave raided and hunted for ivory in the modern Eastern Congo. Look up Tippu Tib.

 

[Warthog]

Nah. Zanzibaris and Omanis slave raided and hunted for ivory in the modern Eastern Congo. Look up Tippu Tib.

Zanzibaris and other Swahili - Yes. Omanis and other ragheads - Not so much!

Tippu Tip disgusts me! He thought himself as Arab! Yet look at him

He would've had his nuts cut off in the Middle East!

 

[Bawon Samedi]

Nah. Zanzibaris and Omanis slave raided and hunted for ivory in the modern Eastern Congo. Look up Tippu Tib.

I KNOW who Tippu Tib is.

But before the Arab-Congo war Tippu Tib and the Congo Free state had a relationship.

 

[Bawon Samedi]

Coin found off Arnhem Land coast could be among Australia's oldest foreign artefacts

Coin found off Arnhem Land coast could be among Australia's oldest foreign artefacts

 

[Bawon Samedi]

The Swahili have among the top 5 best clothing in Africa.

Im a fan of silk

 

[DoubleClutch]

Looks like some good info in this thread. I gotta read through it