Bagamoyo

Bagamoyo is considered a heritage centre for Tanzania and trade in east Africa. The name in Kiswahili means 'crush down your heart' referring to the harsh reality of the slave trade in east Africa. I headed out to visit this coastal town 47 km north of Dar es Salaam with a new friend from Canada, Deb Arnold, along with a driver and guide. The road to Bagamoyo from Dar es Salaam appears to be under construction but a priority project. The current president is from the region. In the late 18th and early 19th century this town was the hub of activity for trade in East Africa. Long before, Arab traders from Oman settled this area of east Africa and plied the slave trade. To this day, Bagamoyo is predominately Islamic in culture. The Kaole ruins are between Dar and Bagamoyo on what was the site of a main ocean port between the 13th and 16th centuries. This was an ancient Shirazi settlement with two mosques and over 30 tombs. Some of the artifacts are Chinese which indicates trade routes were extensive with the far east. Mangroves have completely covered what was the harbour or port and the beach is almost inaccessible. Tidal changes have been identified as the reason for this change. 

At the Kaole Ruins

Our guide explains that Bagamoyo was the epicentre for the slave trade in east Africa. Oman traders used this area to transport slaves from the interior of east Africa. The slaves from east Africa were largely sent to Arab countries and islands in the Indian ocean. There is a tomb that is known as the lover's tomb as the couple died together on the ocean during a storm. 

Our guide also had us dip in the centuries old well for water to ensure good fortune in our life and travels. 

We travelled on to visit the |Old Fort originally built by Indian traders and later Arab traders. It was fortified by the Germans who made it their centre and capital for trade in east Africa. In addition to the ivory, ebony, and other natural resources that passed through this port town, about 50,000 slaves a year were transported from Bagamoyo to Zanzibar for the slave market. 

The early explorers including Henry Morton Stanley and David Livingstone began and ended their explorations into the interior from here. The French missionaries established 'Freedom Village' here for ransomed slaves. They established the Holy Ghost Mission which has a museum and artifacts from the early missionaries. The mango lined street leading to the mission has a serene feel and the church is brightly painted with scenes of the holy spirit.