The Waswahili Community Trust UK
(Wadhamini wa Jumuiya ya Waswahili)
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The Waswahili Community Trust UK |
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The Bajunis are mangrove cutters, tree cutters and boat builders. The question is: what point can there be in building vihori, madau, mitepe, mitumbwi and majahazi if you have no idea how the end product behaves in the marine environment for which they were built? The answer is, of course, that the Swahilis provided and have always been acknowledged for their seamanship. It is true that secondary communities of Swahili sailing communities have existed particularly on both sides of the Pemba Channel.
But theirs is a somewhat specialized form of seamanship. Members of the Pemba Channel Swahili communities specialized in inter-island crossing in the speedy and virtually sink-proof Swahili catamarans called ngalawas.
It is acknowledged throughout the Swahili world that Lamu Archipelago Waswahili are the quintessential Swahili seamen. They provided the jahazi nahodhas (captains) and baharia (seamen). They built the dhows, they launched the dhows, they sailed the dhows, they caught the fish on the high seas, they cooked the fish, and they provided the culinary delights to fellow sailors and passengers alike. In short, they were the adventurers of the high seas.
The Bajunis are mangrove cutters, tree cutters and boat builders. The question is: what point can there be in building vihori, madau, mitepe, mitumbwi and majahazi if you have no idea how the end product behaves in the marine environment for which they were built? The answer is, of course, that the Swahilis provided and have always been acknowledged for their seamanship.
It is true that secondary communities of Swahili sailing communities have existed particularly on both sides of the Pemba Channel. But theirs is a somewhat specialized form of seamanship. Members of the Pemba Channel Swahili communities specialized in inter-island crossing in the speedy and virtually sink-proof Swahili catamarans called ngalawas.
It is acknowledged throughout the Swahili world that Lamu Archipelago Waswahili are the quintessential Swahili seamen. They provided the jahazi nahodhas (captains) and baharia (seamen). They built the dhows, they launched the dhows, they sailed the dhows, they caught the fish on the high seas, they cooked the fish, and they provided the culinary delights to fellow sailors and passengers alike. In short, they were the adventurers of the high seas.
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Copyright© March 2003: The Waswahili Community Trust (UK)
Registered Charity:1083065