GUIDE ON BAGAMOYO IN TANZANIA

Visit Bagamoyo for a cultural, historic and seashore tour and you will be struck by the serenity of this town having experienced a brutal past. Time seems to have passed it and left it untouched but hurt. Today, the Ruvu River still flows peacefully beside it into the Indian Ocean. White sand seashores and gently swaying palms in the sea breeze add to the charm of this fishing town.

To explore the exquisite water worlds around Bagamoyo, visit its beaches and island in the vicinity. Lazy Lagoon Island is one such private locale with gorgeous beaches and an eco-friendly accommodation. Look out to the ocean, and you will see fishing craft of traditional Swahili design, the wooden dhows, side by side with ngalawas, a subtle reminder of the rich varied culture of the town.



Today, Bagamoyo is inhabited by families of Arabian descent, the Kwere, Zaramo, Zigua and the Swahili who are dominant. As you explore the rural metropolis, it reveals to you its myriad secrets, and one by one, you will uncover the many facets of its rich history. Originally a sleepy settlement of fisher folk, it was founded into a town in the late 18th century.

Soon it developed into a busy trade centre with Omani Arabs and Indian merchants setting up bases here. Next to arrive were the Germans who named it their East African Administrative Capital. Bagamoyo served as a stopover for cargo caravans transporting goods from the interiors of Africa to the trade markets of Zanzibar.



The caravans carried a varied range of products such as ivory, dried meats, ebony, coconut kernels and a host of other natural items. But the most notorious cargo transported were the slaves, most of which were bound for working in the spice and clove plantations of Zanzibar and others “exported out”. At the height of Bagamoyo’s time, some 50,000 – 75,000 slaves were transported every year.

Bagamoyo takes its name from the Kiswahili phrase, “crush down your heart,” so described by the slaves because they were never to see their homes again. And ironically, the caravan travelers called it Bwagamoyo, “to throw off melancholy.” The town has buildings that were used as temporary housing for the slaves, and you can see them standing even today. As you visit the many historical sites and structures on your Bagamoyo tour with AfricanMecca, they will speak to you of how successfully trade flourished here and of the demised opulence of its inhabitants.

Bagamoyo’s Old Town has edifices with hand carved Swahili door frames crafted out of wood that was a statement of affluence and identity. You can also see the restored Old Fort, built by the Baluchis and later auxiliary by Omani Arabs. Having changed ownership many times, the fort had the distinction of also being used by the Germans as a defence post for their East African colony.



On your Tanzania historic travels, you will also see edifices such as the Catholic Mission, the oldest in East Africa and the Catholic Museum that talk about the activities of the German missionaries in Tanzania. It is no wonder that the principal area of the District of Bagamoyo has now been recognised as a “tentative” UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Department of Antiquities in Tanzania has taken charge of the remnants of its colonial history and is directing efforts to its preservation for generations to come.

In fact, Bagamoyo is one of the last bases for creating dhow sailboats in the traditional way and the “Chuo cha Sanaa” (Bagamoyo College of Arts) preserves primeval Tanzanian art by holding classes in painting, sculpture, dancing and other art forms. The college also hosts the Bagamoyo Players, a troupe of dancers that hold displays for the general public from Japan to Europe. You can support them by purchasing their music from Amazon and iTunes.