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Islam's Spread in East Africa: A Historical Perspective

Explore the spread of Islam in East Africa, with a focus on the Swahili Coast. Delve into the Islamic expansion from the 8th to 19th centuries and its impact on the region's culture and trade. Uncover archaeological and textual evidence of Muslim presence, trade routes, and city-states like Kilwa and Pate. Discover the intricate history of Islamization in the coastal regions amidst trade relations with Arabia.

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Islam's Spread in East Africa: A Historical Perspective

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  1. Islamic Horn and East Africa

  2. Spread of Islam in AfricaEast Africa- “Swahili Coast” Arab and Swahilitraders spreadIslam: 8th-19thcenturies C.E.

  3. Islamic Horn & East Africa Islam spread into Horn and Coastal Regions of East Africa same time as into North, West Africa: Nature of ‘Islamic expansion’ and ‘Islamization’ reflects many of the same issues we have already looked at (especially with Christians) but… Also introduces new ones: of particular note in Swahili East Africa -- ‘racism’ [lectures Mar. 29-31]

  4. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Indian Ocean: monsoon winds controlled when ships could move across and around Ocean – merchants forced to spend up to six months on East African coast

  5. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea ( 1st century AD): well-established trade between Arabia -- ‘Azania’ main port in Yemen; southern port in Azania --“Rhapta” (near island ‘Menouthesias) neither location certain: some argue islands of Zanzibar or Pemba may be Menouthesias, with Rhapta lying between Bagamoyo and Dar es-Salaam

  6. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’

  7. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Most recent archaeology puts Rhapta south of Dar es-Salaam, near Kilwa Yemen (ancient) claimed right to over-lordship of Azania coast – trade not conquest relationship Rhapta and hinterland ‘governed’ by these people (believed to be Ma'afir clan)-- may explain name "Mafia“ given to near-by island

  8. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Archaeological Evidence principal work by Mark Horton, 1980s 8 -year dig at Shanga (SE coast of Pate) found: - coins - burial sites - mosque(s)

  9. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Archaeologial Evidence: ‘Swahili’ settlement by 8th earliest mosque: wattle-and-daub, replaced by stone early 10th C. Muslims probably present by late 8th- early 9th C. Pate Town founded by refugees from Oman; re-settled early 13th C. by Nabahani [written texts]

  10. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ East African Dhow (off Pate Island) ‘Shanga’ archaeological site (1980s)and ‘Pate Town’

  11. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Mosque re-built mid-to-late 11th C: larger : suggests growing Muslim population new style : suggests arrival Qarmatians, Shia group from Eastern Arabia [hypothesis of archaeologists supported by later Portuguese account] know more as archaeology read alongside texts

  12. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Textual Evidence: Pate and Kilwa Chronicles Pate Chronicle/s many versions (some very different from others) in several languages (only beginning to be translated in early 20th century) difficult to access: problematic historical ‘source’

  13. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Original manuscript (The book of kings of Pate): possiblywritten early 19th C., destroyed in battle with British 1890. . . Or -- these histories derive as much from rich 19th C. oral tradition as from a literate one Either way: all agree it is important as literature --reflection of evolution Swahili language and culture

  14. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ “Scholars have been preoccupied with attempting to use the Chronicle to establish basic facts, especially a chronological list of rulers and the duration of their reigns. Of course the Pate Chronicle presents problems in this area . . . [Rather] The Chronicle is a valuable source for addressing issues of culture and identity. It is a reflection of how the people of Pate viewed themselves within the context of their struggles with other communities and forces. The text itself is part of Pate’s process of self definition as a community. …”[Review of M Tolmachova’s The Pate Chronicle, 1993, Resources]

  15. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Pate Chronicle, account of Nabahani family [have written sources they ruled Oman 12th - 17th centuries]: suggests pattern of movement from Arabia/Oman to East Africa coast during six centuries prior to arrival Portuguese late 15th century site abandoned 15th C. but island continued to compete with Lamu for Indian Ocean trade

  16. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Kilwa Chronicle: (Kilwa both Island, coastal town) according to Chronicle: c. 975, Sultan Ali bin al-Hasan bin Ali arrived/settled in Kilwa purchased island from ‘ruling chief’ (pagan? Muslim?) for ‘amount of cloth needed to encircle it’ Sultan married Chief’s daughter [ruled 1310-1333]; one of (his 7) sons settled Mafia Island under ‘Kilwa Sultanate’

  17. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Kilwa and Neighbours Bagamoyo . Mafia .Kilwa [ “Swahili Coast”http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/data/2001/10/01/html/ft_20011001.6.html# ]

  18. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ ‘Kilwa Chronicle’ speaks of founding of city-states by Persians from city of ‘Shiraz’: [only partial copies Arabic, Portuguese remain] both Sunni and Shia but most followed Shafi’ism "Then came Sultan Ali bin Selimani the Shirazi, that is, the Persian. He came with his ships, and brought his goods and his children. One child was called Fatima, the daughter of Sultan Ali: we do not know the names of the other children.

  19. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ They came with Musa bin Amrani the Beduin; they disembarked at Kilwa, that is to say, they went to the headman of the country, the Elder Mrimba, and asked for a place in which to settle at Kisiwani. This they obtained. And they gave Mrimba presents of trade goods and beads [this translation not specifying ‘cloth’]. Sultan Ali married Mrimba's daughter. He lived on good terms with the people." [Excerpt from East African Coast, Select Documents, G.S.P. Freeman-Grenville.Cited BBC Story of Africa…. East Africa]

  20. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Video Excerpt:Henry Louis Gates Jr.“Wonders of Africa: Swahili Coast” ‘The Persians’[approx. 10 min]

  21. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Wealth of Kilwa: like other ‘Swahili city-states’, depended on trade in ivory and other goods with Eastern/Arab merchants imported cloth, jewelry (glass beads), Chinese porcelain; taxed trade

  22. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Most important commodity was gold:controlled by Kilwa mined in ‘Great Zimbabwe’, taken to coast at Sofala (Mozambique), shipped up coast via Kilwa thirteenth century: Sultans of Kilwa seem to have gained direct control of Sofala

  23. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ - Kilwa had its own mint -- only place in sub-Saharan Africa to issue gold coins Excavated 1982, Kilwa (c. 1285-1302)

  24. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Minted bySultan SuleimanIbn al-Hasan(14th century)

  25. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Great Zimbawe- KilwaGold Trade

  26. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ 1332 visited by Ibn Battuta who described it as one of the most beautiful and best-constructed towns… [see Additional Readings] “We stayed one night in this island [Mombasa], and then pursued our journey to Kulwa, which is a large town on the coast. The majority of its inhabitants are Zanj, jet-black in colour, and with tattoo marks on their faces. I was told by a merchant that the town of Sufala lies a fortnight's journey [south] from Kulwa and that gold dust is brought to Sufala from Yufi in the country of the Limis, which is a month's journey distant from it.

  27. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Kulwa is a very fine and substantially built town, and all its buildings are of wood. Its inhabitants are constantly engaged in military expeditions, for their country is contiguous to the heathen Zanj.” [Believed to be the people who finally destroyed town in 1588] “The sultan at the time of my visit was Abu'l-Muzaffar Hasan, who was noted for his gifts and generosity. He used to devote the fifth part of the booty made on his expeditions to pious and charitable purposes, as is prescribed in the Koran, and I have seen him give the clothes off his back to a mendicant who asked him for them.

  28. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ When this liberal and virtuous sultan died, he was succeeded by his brother Dawud, who was at the opposite pole from him in this respect. Whenever a petitioner came to him, he would say, "He who gave is dead, and left nothing behind him to be given." Visitors would stay at his court for months on end, and finally he would make them some small gift, so that at last people gave up going to his gate”…

  29. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Combination of growing commerce and Muslim communities led to ‘new culture’: Swahili • most important part of process: intermarriage with or taking concubines from local African women • children brought up as Muslims : necessitated teachers, mosques, following of Islamic rituals, celebrations – ‘infrastructure’ of Islam

  30. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Local traditions provide ‘glimpses’ of how process evolved both on ‘common’ and ‘elite/royal’ levels: • upper-class women may have been married for the access to land becoming ‘kin’ provided • slave women may have been married (taken as concubines) for the children they could produce

  31. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Video Excerpt:Henry Louis Gates Jr.“Wonders of Africa: Swahili Coast” ‘The Arabs’[approx. 5 min]

  32. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Initially Swahili language (combination indigenous African and Arabic, with additions of Persian) --most outward form of ‘identity’ : • by 17th century, Swahili written in Arabic script, distinctive intellectual and artistic society evident • Developed into what is now ‘Swahili Culture’ (architecture, literature, rituals, food, dress)

  33. Swahili Architecture Mosque, Kilwa

  34. Swahili Architecture Video Excerpt:Basil Davidson ‘Africa: Swahili Coast’ “Kilwa Mosque’ [approx. 3 min]

  35. Swahili Architecture Swahili House (exterior, interior), Lamu [19th c]

  36. Swahili Architecture Ornate Carved Wooden Doors, Merchants Houses, Lamu

  37. Swahili Culture Local Dress (lt); Prophet’s Birthday (rt) [

  38. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ 1498 Portuguese (Vasco da Gama) sailed up East African coast, sited Mafia

  39. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Returned to sack Kilwa (and other coastal cities) 1505: “On Tuesday, 22 July, they entered the harbour of 'Kilwa at noon, with a total of eight ships. Immediately on their arrival the Grand-Captain, Dom Francisco d'Almeida, sent Bona Ajuta Veneziano to summon the king [Emir Ibrahim, the ruler of Kilwa, and probably a bit of its hinterland]. He excused himself from coming, but sent the Grand-Captain gifts instead; They were five goats, a small cow and a large number of coconuts and other fruit. . . .

  40. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ “At dawn on Thursday, 24 July, the vigil of the feast of St. James the Apostle, all went in their boats to the shore. The first to land was the Grand-Captain, and he was followed by the others. They went straight to the royal palace, and on the way only those Moors who did not fight were granted their lives. At the palace there was a Moor leaning out of the window with a Portuguese flag in his hand, shouting: 'Portugal! Portugal!'This flag had been left behind by the admiral [Vasco da Gama] when he had arranged for Kilwa to pay a tribute of 1,500 ounces of gold a year.

  41. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ The Moor was asked to open the door, and, when he did not do so, the door was broken down with axes. They found neither the Moor nor anyone else in the Palace, which was deserted. . . As soon as the town had been taken without opposition, the Vicar-General and some of the Franciscan fathers came ashore carrying two crosses in procession and singing the Te Deum. They went to the palace, and there the cross was put down and the Grand-Captain prayed. Then everyone started to plunder the town of all its merchandise and provisions.

  42. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Kilwa asseen by the Portuguese15th C.

  43. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Portugal formally annexed East African Coast in 1515: next two centuries, fought for ‘real’ control of coast, Indian Ocean trade some Swahili states resisted; others ‘used’ Portuguese to battle rival neighbours

  44. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Some states sought Omani support: 1698,Omanis defeated Portuguese in Mombassa gave Oman control of coast from Lamu to Kilwa Portuguese influence thereafter limited to fortresses in Mombassa, Kilwa

  45. Islamic Africa: ‘Swahili Coast’ Swahili Coast: Remained predominately Muslim – ‘Swahili’ seen as synonymous with ‘Islamic’ New ‘injection’ Ibadi Islam mid-19th C: Omanis established capital in Zanzibar itself Expanded commercial empire (largely based on slave trading) into heart of African interior: took Islam and Muslim society with it !

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