Reveal the Fair Cities of Stone
A Discussion on the Swahili Coast
The book by Basil Davidson, “Lost Cities of Africa,” is very good. There are some things I disagree with, but like anything, you pick the bones out and go from there. It’s a pretty thorough book. It covers a lot of regions and highlights lost cities. Chapter 7, title is “Fair Cities of Stone”. A few questions that come to mind,
What was the forgotten civilization?
Are you Arab or African?
This is where the East meets West, before going towards the western coast of Africa. What did I find in reading this chapter?
The Lost Civilization
Vasco da Gama sailed along the coast of Africa. Da Gama and many others called themselves circumnavigating the world. Under the assumption this place had nothing to offer since so many ships crossed the Indian Ocean. He went from Portugal and discovered that he had nothing to give in comparison to what they were giving. He passed Madagascar and found people who knew the land and sea into the coasts of India and beyond. These people did not exist as a forgotten civilization. They were thriving and established. However, they found that Africans were already doing this and doing it better. They witnessed a flourishing maritime trade trading:
Gold
Iron
Tortoise shells
Weights, measures, and more.
This reminds me of the people of Mali, Ghana, and Songhai exchanged gold and salt as well as books.
The Lost Man
They were also looking for Prester John, a legendary figure. European sailors of the late 15th century. They saw the coast of Eastern Africa as more civilized. A civilization possessing wealth and knowledge. The Europeans were surprised at the ease and substance of the port cities. They realized Africa had a lot to give the world, but instead of trading, they resorted to terror and fear.
The Lost Identity
Tunisians in the northern part of Africa landed in India and were significant figures there. The term “Moor” was always seen as relegated to one group of people in Northwestern Africa. People who civilized Spain, establishing Al-Andalus, and other parts of Europe. The people were trying to figure out why European ships were coming out to the ports of India. The prevailing view at the time was that the ancient cities were Arab or Persian influenced. Moreover, upon deeper investigation, it showed the very foundations of these cities. The founders were the
Kilwa
Lamu
Malindi
Pemba
Zanzibar
Kilwa, and Kisiwani.
All were African.
Various cultures migrated and were absorbed by the people among whom they lived. They intermingled and married. The Kiswahili was the most interesting. The issue is the Arab African, or Afro Arab identity. Many people try to be everything but African. Many black people, whether in Africa or around the corner in my neighborhood. Try to align themselves with groups and ideologies. Neglecting the community in which they live. If you’re not for the people, trying to help yourself and not others, that’s a problem.
John Henrik Clarke asserted his views concerning the Africans in the diaspora. If you are of African descent, you are African no matter where you are. Dr. Yoseff Ben Yochannan said,
If a cat has kittens in an oven, it doesn’t make the kittens biscuits.
What was the forgotten civilization? Vasco da Gama discovered some stuff. Arab or African? It’s deeper than skin color, it’s culture. Chapter 7 was misleading because you’d think they were going to discuss the Great Walls of Zimbabwe. You would believe that Davidson would discuss the wall cities made before the Great Wall of China. Instead, it dealt with the Swahili coast and how they handled business. Much love to you guys. I will talk to you later.
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