THE COMING OF THE ARABS AND PERSIANS

While the first foreigners to come to the West African coast were from Europe, the first outsiders to arrive at the East African coast were the Arabs and Persians. They came from the south of the Arabian Peninsular and from the lands near the Persian Gulf. This group of people came to the East African Coast for various reasons:

Firstly, suitable climate attracted the foreigners to the East African coast. They were fascinated by the climate that was suitable for settlement. Some people were moving away from desert areas while others only preferred the sunny and wet conditions of the East African coast.

Secondly, they wanted to participate in the lucrative coastal trade and in the interior of East Africa. This was the most important factor that attracted outsiders to the coast of East Africa. Manufactured goods from Asia needed market and yet there were also ready goods for sale from East Africa that enabled them to make high profits.

Thirdly, there was religious persecution in their home countries. They were running away from religious persecution that was taking place in the Middle East. In Saudi Arabia, Moslems could not agree over who was to be the fourth “caliph” or successor to prophet Muhammed as the leader of Islam. Wars broke out between the Sunnis and the Shias and some Shias under Zaid had to run away to settle on the East African coast. In other areas also, dominant religions like Hindu discriminated other religious sects.

Fourthly, political rivalry forced Arabs and other Asians to come to the East African coast. For instance succession disputes and political conflicts in Persia, Oman and Arabia have forced some foreigners to come to the East African coast. Some of them found freedom and uncontested territories to administer in East Africa.

Political vacuum in East Africa forced some Arabs to come to the coast. There was no strong and organised political organisation to oppose and defeat the Arab and Asiatic settlers.

Population vacuum is another factor that made the foreigners to occupy the East African coast. The East African coast was not densely populated. The Arabs therefore found it easy to occupy the East African coast.

The need to get tributes from the coastal people made foreigners to come to the East African coast. They wanted to control the East African coast so as to get revenue by taxing the other traders and settlers at the coast.

Soil fertility induced some of the Arabs to leave their homeland for East Africa. Also the East African coast was endowed with fertile soils suitable for the growth of major food and cash crops.

The existence of easy means of communication made foreigners to come to the coast of East Africa. There was easy communication between the East African coast and the Middle East facilitated by Monsoon winds. The Arabs crossed the Indian Ocean with ease because of the Monsoon winds.

Provision of high-class and warm hospitality contributed to the coming of foreigners to the East African coast. The courtesy accorded to the Arabs by the East African people also served as a pull factor. Those who came did not think of going back.

Lastly some outsiders came because of adventure. The natural spirit of adventure might have also motivated especially the youth to explore the geography beyond their original homeland.

After arriving at the coast, they first settled in Kanbalu on the islands of Pemba. Other Arab settlements included Mogadishu, Lamu, Malindi, and Zanzibar and Kilwa Kisiwani.

These Arabs and Persians came across the Indian Ocean to East Africa in boats known as “Dhows”, which were blown by seasonal winds known as the “Monsoon winds”. They would be blown to East Africa by the North-East Monsoon winds between November and April and back home by the South-west monsoon winds between May and October.

Reasons for the Development of Coastal Towns

The coming of outsiders from Arabia and Persia led to the founding of the East African coastal towns. The presence of the Indian Ocean trade contributed to the coming up of the coastal towns.

  1.   The presence of trade items from the coastal areas and interior of East Africa created the need for markets and thus the development of towns.
  2.   The presence of commodities from across the Indian Ocean such as silk, beads, plates, chinaware, among others, too contributed to the development of the towns.
  3.   The presence of good natural harbours, islands and peninsulas also helped in the development of the towns.
  4.   Presence of slaves that were sold to the outside world brought a lot of revenue and wealth.
  5.   The hospitality of the Bantu who welcomed foreigners who developed the coast. Fertility of the soil which promoted food production and food security led to development of the coastal towns
  6.   The introduction of coins and cowrie shells to facilitate trade increased wealth of the coastal states.
  7.   The development of the Kiswahili language which acted as a commercial language.
  8.   The introduction of guns for expansion, security and defence led to the development of coastal states.
  9.   The introduction of Arab and Persian architecture which was used in the building of houses and towns.
  10.   The introduction of new crops such as sugarcane, rice, bananas etc. promoted development. Arabs and Persians provided suitable leadership that brought development.
  11.   Presence of fresh and clean waters at the coast led to development.
  12.   The intermarriage between the Arabs and Africans created stronger bonds of unity which led to the development.
  13.   The natural location of the coastal states in the strategic trading centres and zones.
  14.   Some states were naturally protected due to their location eg Kilwa, Zanzibar and Pemba.
  15.   Islam which was introduced on the coast as a new religion united the coastal people and this too developed the towns.
  16.   Another factor that equally contributed to the development of towns was the presence to Monsoon winds which helped to bring and take back the outsiders as well as imports and exports.
  17.   Iron works produced by local Bantu communities produced iron implements that were used to increase food production. With increased food production, there was increase in population that led to growth of coastal towns.
  18.   The local population was joined by refugees who were running away from political and religious persecution in Arabia and Persia.
  19. Taxation- East African coastal states got revenue from taxes levied on the traders in the region. That revenue was used for the development of towns.
  20. Finally, the cool climate and fertile soils too led to the development of the towns.
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