List of Swahili settlements of the East African coast explained

Swahili settlements of the East African coast date from as early as the first century CE when eastern Bantu people on the east coast of Africa began adopting the Swahili language and culture and founded settlements along the coast and islands.^[1] Below is a list of Swahili settlements founded between 800 CE to 1900 CE.

Northern coast, Tanzania

• Manza
• Tanga Island
• Tanga
• Yambe Island
• Tongoni
• Mnarani

• Muhembo
• Bweni Kuu
• Ras Kikokwe
• Kipumbwe
• Kiungani
• Sange
• Kisikimto
• Ushongo
• Mkwaja
• Bimbini
• Mafui

• Uzimia
• Buyuni
• Saadani
• Utondwe
• Winde
• Mkadini
• Bagamoyo Historic Town
• Kaole

Southern Coast, Tanzania

• Mbegani
• Old Mbweni
• Ukutani
• Kunduchi
• Old Msasani
• Old Mjimwema
• Mbuamaji
• Kimbiji
• Kigunda
• Funza
• Jino Baya

• Sala
• Kutani
• Kisiju
• Kwale Island, Pwani
• Koma Island
• Kisimani, Mafia
• Kua Juani
• Mwanamkuru
• Mbutu Bandarini
• Ras Dege
• Kanyegwa Mfunguni
• Ras Kutani

• Jambe Juani
• Chole
• Jibondo
• Kivinje
• Mtitimira
• Kilwa Kisiwani
• Songo Mnara
• Mivinja
• Mkuje
• Kikurwi
• Pemba Mnazi
• Buyuni Mbuyuni

• Mwanakiwambi
• Sanje Majoma
• Sanje ya Kati
• Majumbe
• Kisawere
• Lindi
• Mchinga
• Ngao Mwanya
• Mikindani
• Msemo
• Kiruti Island
• Boza Island
• Ngevu
• Mkungu

Zanzibar Island, Tanzania

• Zanzibar Town
• Unguja Ukuu
• Kizimkazi
• Mbweni, Zanzibar
• Dunga
• Mkokotoni
• Shangani
• Pwani Deburi
• Beit El Ras
• Chuini
• Kidichi
• Kizimbani
• Pwani ya Deburi

• Chukwani
• Maharubi
• Mbweni
• Tumbatu
• Makunduchi
• Mvuleni
• Chwaka
• Nungwi
• Fukuchani
• Jongowe
• Shungi
• Uroa
• Old Mvuleni

Pemba Island, Tanzania

• • Shengeju Ndagoni
• Chake (fort)
• Pujini Ruins
• Chwaka Harun site
• Mandani
• Kichokochwe Ruins
• Verani
• Mkia wa Ng'ombe
• Kimeliani
• Mduuni
• Shumba
• Msuka Mjini Ruins
• Makongwe
• Kiwani
• Jambangome
• Bandari ya Faraji

• Mtambwe Kuu
• Msuka
• Shamiani
• Chambani
• Kiungoni
• Mtangani
• Mkama Ndume
• Tumbe
• Finga
• Kojani
• Wingwi
• Kiungoni
• Kiuyu
• Vitongoje
• Mitondoni
• Ras Mkumbuu Ruins
• Mtangani
• Mduuni
• Finga

South coast, Kenya

• Ngomeni
• Mambrui
• Malindi
• Mgangani
• Gedi
• Watamu
• Kilepwa
• Kilifi
• Mnarani, Kenya

• Kitoka
• Takaungu
• Kinuni
• Jumba la Mtwana
• Mtwapa
• Kongowea, Mombasa
• Mvita, Mombasa
• Kilindini, Mombasa
• Tiwi

• Diani
• Ukunda
• Gazi
• Munge
• Kifundi
• Wassini
• Vanga
• Vumba Kuu

North coast, Kenya

• Ishakani
• Kiunga
• Mwana Mtama
• Omwe
• Mambore
• Uchi Juu
• Shee Umuro
• Shee Jafari
• Rubu

• Simambaya
• Sendeni
• Mvindeni
• Kiwayu
• Ndau
• Faza
• Kizingitini
• Tundwa

• Atu
• Siyu
• Kitau
• Shanga
• Wange
• Dondo
• Bui
• Pate
• Magogoni
• Kipungani
• Manda

• Takwa
• Shela
• Lamu
• Matondoni
• Mkunumbi
• Uziwa
• Witu
• Mea
• Al Famau
• Bunta la Mwana
• Shaka
• Ungwana
• Kipini
• Kau
• Manda

Further reading

• Book: Allen . James De Vere . Swahili Origins: Swahili Culture & the Shungwaya Phenomenon . 1993 . J. Currey . 978-0-85255-075-5 . al.ch.document.sip200016 .
• Horton . Mark . The Swahili Corridor . Scientific American . September 1987 . 257 . 3 . 86–93 . 10.1038/scientificamerican0987-86 . 24979481 . 1987SciAm.257c..86H .
• Allen . James De Vere . Swahili Architecture in the Later Middle Ages . African Arts . 1974 . 7 . 2 . 42–84 . 10.2307/3334723 . 3334723 .
• Spear . Thomas . Early Swahili History Reconsidered . The International Journal of African Historical Studies . 2000 . 33 . 2 . 257–290 . 10.2307/220649 . 220649 .
• Kessy . Emmanuel T. . The economic basis and the location of same 'iron age' settlement on pemba and zanzibar . August 1992 .
• Kessy . Emanuel Thomas . Archaeological sites survey from Kisiju to Dar es Salaam . Nyame Akuma . 1997 . 48 . 57–69 . . 132496308 .

Notes and References

1. Allen . James de Vere . Swahili Culture and the Nature of East Coast Settlement . The International Journal of African Historical Studies . 1981 . 14 . 2 . 306–334 . 10.2307/218047 . 218047 .