List of Swahili settlements of the East African coast

Pujini Ruins in Chake Chake District, Tanzania.
Chwaka Mosque in Micheweni District, Tanzania.
Mkama Ndume palace in Pujini, Chake Chake District, Tanzania.
Kizimkazi Mosque in Dimbani, Kusini District, Tanzania.
Gedi in Kenya.
Tongoni Ruins in Tanga District, Tanzania.
Kilwa Kisiwani ruins in Kilwa District, Tanzania.
Takwa ruins in Manda Island, Kenya.
Msuka Mjini Ruins Mosque in Micheweni District, Tanzania.
Mbutu Bandarini Mosque in Kigamboni District, Tanzania.
Mbuamaji tombs in Kigamboni District, Tanzania.
Kimbiji Mosque in Kigamboni District, Tanzania.

Swahili settlements of the East African coast date from as early as the first century CE when eastern Bantu people on the east coast of Africa began adopting the Swahili language and culture and founded settlements along the coast and islands.[1] Below is a list of Swahili settlements founded between 800 CE to 1900 CE.

Northern coast, Tanzania

  • Muhembo
  • Bweni Kuu
  • Ras Kikokwe
  • Kipumbwe
  • Kiungani
  • Sange
  • Kisikimto
  • Ushongo
  • Mkwaja
  • Bimbini
  • Mafui

Southern Coast, Tanzania


Zanzibar Island, Tanzania

Pemba Island, Tanzania

South coast, Kenya

  • Diani
  • Ukunda
  • Gazi
  • Munge
  • Kifundi
  • Wassini
  • Vanga
  • Vumba Kuu

North coast, Kenya

References

  1. ^ Allen, James de Vere (1981). "Swahili Culture and the Nature of East Coast Settlement". The International Journal of African Historical Studies. 14 (2): 306–334. doi:10.2307/218047. JSTOR 218047.

Further reading

  • Allen, James De Vere (1993). Swahili Origins: Swahili Culture & the Shungwaya Phenomenon. J. Currey. ISBN 978-0-85255-075-5. JSTOR al.ch.document.sip200016.
  • Horton, Mark (September 1987). "The Swahili Corridor". Scientific American. 257 (3): 86–93. Bibcode:1987SciAm.257c..86H. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0987-86. JSTOR 24979481.
  • Allen, James De Vere (1974). "Swahili Architecture in the Later Middle Ages". African Arts. 7 (2): 42–84. doi:10.2307/3334723. JSTOR 3334723.
  • Spear, Thomas (2000). "Early Swahili History Reconsidered". The International Journal of African Historical Studies. 33 (2): 257–290. doi:10.2307/220649. JSTOR 220649.
  • Kessy, Emmanuel T. (August 1992). The economic basis and the location of same 'iron age' settlement on pemba and zanzibar (Thesis).
  • Kessy, Emanuel Thomas (1997). "Archaeological sites survey from Kisiju to Dar es Salaam". Nyame Akuma (48): 57–69. S2CID 132496308. INIST 2021648.