The Swahili Coast

Introduction

• A string of African ports tied into the Indian Ocean trade network

• Most of these cities were Muslim, but retained Bantu culture and Swahili language

• By the 8th and 9th centuries, visitors and refugees from Oman and the Persian Gulf had established themselves there – the Arabic term for this East African Coast is Zenj

• Towns contained mosques, tombs, and palaces

• Items such as ivory, gold, iron, slaves, and animals were traded for silks and porcelain

• Kilwa – once city – was particularly wealthy because it controlled the gold trade

Mix of Cultures

• African culture remained strong during the trading period

• Swahili mixed Arabic words• It was written in Arabic script• Islam did not penetrate into the interior of

Africa• In fact, Islamization was class-based• By 1500 – the trade network had shifted

from Kilwa to Malindi and Mombasa• The Portuguese raided these regions

Forest and Plains People

• By 1000 – they had a varied agriculture

• Organized by small village communities

• Most maintained oral traditions rather than writing

• Even though they had no writing – they produced a vibrant culture

• In central Nigeria – particularly the village of Nok – many objects have been found

• They practiced agriculture and used iron tools

• Then there was Ile-Ife (Yoruba state) – they produced terra cotta and bronze portrait heads of past rulers

• Worked with wood and ivory as well

Yoruba

• Origins are obscure

• Spoke non-Bantu language

• Organized into small city-states

• Regional kings

Benin

• Similar to Yoruba

• The ruler was called “oba”