All the thirty-seven towns became important and grew rich because of the profitable East African Indian Ocean trade. These towns therefore attracted traders from many other countries to participate in the trade. Towns had good facilities.

The earliest permanent Arab settlements e.g. Mogadishu, Brava and Manda were founded in the 8^th or 9^th century from the Persian Gulf. Immigrants from this area and from South Arabia continued to trickle into East Africa right up until the 19^th century.

Expansion southwards from the Banadir coast proceeded slowly until the 12^th century, when increased migration was associated with a ruling group known as the Shirazi. They colonised many places between Lamu islands and Sofala. Much of the settlements and activities were centred at Sofala which developed at the expense of Mogadishu. By 14^th century, Kilwa exercised much control over the gold trade.

Characteristics of the coastal towns

Most of the towns along the East African coast were either situated on the islands or peninsulas, giving them natural protection from the mainland attack.

 

All the towns participated in the Indian Ocean trade and grew rich from the trade. There was little or no contact between the people of the coastal towns and those of the interior. The coastal towns were always fighting each other.

 

Each town had its own ruler who was either a Sheikh or a Sultan chosen from the Arabs.

 

The rulers of the coastal towns ruled according to the principles laid down by the Islamic faith in the Koran.

 

The administration of the coastal towns was as follows:

 

Each town had its own leader in the name of a Sheikh or sultan chosen from a prominent family and usually of Arab or Persian origin. The rulers governed with advice from a council with special tasks for certain officials.

 

The Khadi was in charge of the courts and the koranic system of law; the Muhatsib was in charge of the police force and Emir or Wazir was the supervisor of the administrative affairs of the state.

 

All leaders followed the clear laws written down in the holy books and as practiced by all the Moslems.

 

There were frequent quarrels and conflicts between different coastal states. The more powerful ones would conquer the weak ones but the domination would always take very short time. The major coastal towns of East African included:

• Mombasa ,
• Kilwa,
• Zanzibar and Pemba ,
• Sofala,
• Mogadishu and
• Malindi.

 

Mombasa

By the year 1000 AD, Mombasa was still small and less important Compared to Mogadishu and Kilwa. 

It  was probably founded in the 12^th century.  Africans founded it as an export centre for slaves and ivory.

Mombasa possessed one of the best natural harbours on the coast.  It grew rich as trade with India increased. 

In 1490, Mombasa was a fortified town with fine buildings.  It started with an African dynasty which was later overthrown by the Shiraz.  Swahili had a strong African element.

She remained a small trading centre and settlement for almost three hundred years when it started attracting traders from the Middle East and the Far East.

It was during the second half of the sixteenth century that Mombasa gained power and riches. It began to expand and controlled the small neighbouring states.

Mombasa controlled all the internal trade with the Kenyan hinterland. It developed special contacts especially with India.

By 1490, the town was already fortified and fine buildings challenging Kilwa’s position. This increased the enmity with other towns like Malindi with which it had been in conflict for long.

Mombasa had many enemies to fight. Its rulers attempted to attack Malindi but failed. For a long time they remained rivals. It had a good natural harbour and therefore attracted many Asiatic visitors for trade.

 

Kilwa

Kilwa came to prominence in the 13^th century with a new dynasty of rulers who were the Shiraz.

 

The earliest inhabitants of Kilwa were of Persian origin. It became the largest and most prosperous of all the coastal towns with magnificent buildings such as the Husuni Kubwa.

 

Kilwa controlled the gold trade from Sofala and began making its own coins.  This gave it influence in the Northern towns.

 

In about 1270, the great mosque at Kilwa was built by Al-Hassan-Ibn Sulaiman II. Around 1320 built the largest palace known as ”Husuni Kubwa”. By 1350, it was only Mogadishu which rivalled Kilwa.

 

Kilwa’s people who were both Swahili and Arabs were very devout Muslims.

 

Kilwa developed cowrie shells as its currency and later it started to mint its own coins. The minting of coins was a sign of power and sovereignty.

 

Kilwa conquered other towns and took over gold trade through Sofala. The trade involved items like slaves, ivory, hides and skins, honey among others.

 

As a result of this trade, the people of Kilwa became rich, very powerful and enjoyed luxurious life.

 

They built stone buildings and Kilwa was adored for many powerful building. It actually became a tourist centre.

 

Dynastic quarrels and rivalries in the later part of the 15^th century led to the steady decline of this settlement.

 

Wars in the interior behind Sofala interrupted the flow of gold and this also contributed to its decline.  At this time also Mombasa had become a powerful rival.

 

Zanzibar and Pemba

These are the two major islands off the Tanzania mainland. Its old name was Unguja, Arabs called the East African coast as the Zenj-bar meaning the coast of black people.

 

Since Unguja was the place where Arab Dhows visited frequently, it came to be known as Zanzibar. These were among the first places to be settled by Arabs. As early as the 5^th century Africans from the mainland settled in Zanzibar and Pemba islands forming an African dynasty.

 

In the 7^th century immigrants from Arabia and Persia escaping from political and religious persecutions also settled there.  The Arabs overthrew the African dynasty and established their own. In the 15^th century the Sultans began minting their own coins.

 

Mogadishu

It was founded and located on the Somali coast between the 10^th and the 15^th century. It was the first to rise to prominence due to its proximity to the Northern trade routes.  By 1000 A.D. it was an important town and it became the most developed coastal settlement.

 

Mogadishu was second in importance to Kilwa. It was probably founded with pure Africans almost at the same time with Kilwa.

 

Both the Africans and Arabs were completely islamised. Mogadishu was the centre of Islamic culture.

 

Mogadishu was later defeated and controlled by the Shiraz rulers. Its influence was limited to the Northern coast. Her importance was seen in the following:

 

It was the most important centre of the Islamic culture. Its people were mostly Moslems and she played a vital role in the spread of Islam in the region. By the 16^th century, it became the largest and most highly developed coastal town. It had the most fine buildings and mosques along the coast.

 

Its population was mostly Africans. In some cases the local language and many customs were preserved. It had the strongest trading contact with the Arab world because of her location to the North. It did not interfere in the life of the coast especially in the south hence it had little conflict with the southern coastal settlement.

 

Malindi

The earliest inhabitants of this area were Bantu and Cushites from the interior. It was ruled by Africans of the Cushites and Bantu origin from the interior of East Africa

 

Later Arabs and Persians arrived through their involvement in the coastal trade and had more influence. It was founded at the same time as Mombasa.  

 

Local people were islamised; rulers accepted Islam and adopted the title of Sultan. The Swahili rulers were Muslims and took up the title of Sultan. 

 

 

Asiatic immigrants were interested in trade and developed Malindi into a trading complex.

Because of its good natural harbours, it became an entreport for Arab from the Middle East. Its exports included: iron, crafts, ivory, slaves and hides.

 

There was a trading centre and a fierce rival to Mombasa which was nearby.  Malindi was always willing to ally with anyone to destroy Mombasa. 

 

The indigenous people preserved the Africans customs but copied Arab system of government and administration.