Swahili settlements of the East African coast date from as early as the first century CE when eastern

Bantu Bantu may refer to: *Bantu languages, constitute the largest sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages *Bantu peoples, over 400 peoples of Africa speaking a Bantu language * Bantu knots, a type of African hairstyle *Black Association for National ...

people on the east coast of Africa began adopting the

Swahili language Swahili, also known by its local name , is the native language of the Swahili people, who are found primarily in Tanzania, Kenya and Mozambique (along the East African coast and adjacent litoral islands). It is a Bantu language, though Swahili ...

and culture and founded settlements along the coast and islands. Below is a list of Swahili settlements founded between 800 CE to 1900 CE.

Northern coast, Tanzania

* Manza * Toten Island * Tanga * Yambe Island * Tongoni *

Mnarani Mnarani is a settlement in Kenya's Kilifi County in the former Coast Province The Coast Province ( sw, Mkoa wa Pwani) of Kenya, along the Indian Ocean, was one of Kenya's eight provinces. It comprises the Indian Ocean coastal strip with the cap ...

* Mushembo *

Pangani Pangani Town is a historic Swahili settlement located on the south eastern shore of Tanga Region, Tanzania. The town lies south of the city of Tanga, at the mouth of the Pangani River. It is the headquarters of the Pangani District. Admini ...

* Bweni Dogo * Ras Kikokwe * Kipumbwe * Kiungani * Sange * Kisikimto *

Ushongo Ushongo is a Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is Lessel town, Ushongo Local government Area of Benue State. It has an area of and a population of 188,341 at the 2006 census. Ushongo Local Government postal code ...

* Mkwaja * Bimbini * Mafui * Uzimia * Buyuni * Saadani * Utondwe *

Winde Winde is a village in the Dutch province of Drenthe. It is a part of the municipality of Tynaarlo Tynaarlo (; Gronings: ''Tynaorl'') is a village and municipality in the Northeastern Netherlands. Although it is located in the province of Drenth ...

* Mkadini *

Bagamoyo Bagamoyo, is a historic coastal town founded at the end of the 18th century, though it is an extension of a much older (8th century) Swahili settlement, Kaole. It was chosen as the capital of German East Africa by the German colonial administra ...

Kaole Kaole is a national historic site located in Bagamoyo District of Pwani Region in Tanzania. The site is located three miles east of the historic city of Bagamoyo on the Indian Ocean coast. The area contains old Swahili coral stone ruins dating ...

Southern Coast, Tanzania

* Mbegani * Mbweni * Ukutani *

Kunduchi Kunduchi is an administrative ward in the Kinondoni district of the Dar es Salaam Region of Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within ...

Msasani Msasani is an administrative ward in the Kinondoni District of the Dar es Salaam Region of Tanzania. The ward is located north west of Dar es Salaam central business district. According to the 2002 census, the ward has a total population of 4 ...

Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam (; from ar, دَار السَّلَام, Dâr es-Selâm, lit=Abode of Peace) or commonly known as Dar, is the largest city and financial hub of Tanzania. It is also the capital of Dar es Salaam Region. With a population of over s ...

Mjimwema Mjimwema is an administrative ward in the Kigamboni District of the Dar es Salaam Region of Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within th ...

* Mbuamaji * Kimbiji * Mbuamaji * Kigunda *

Funza Funza () is a municipality and town of Colombia in the Western Savanna Province, of the department of Cundinamarca. Funza is situated on the Bogotá savanna, the southwestern part of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense with the urban centre at an altit ...

* Jino Baya * Sala * Kutani * Bandarini * Kisiju * Kwale Island *

Koma Island Koma may refer to: People * Koma clan, a Japanese clan descended from the royal family of Goguryeo * Koma (rapper), French rapper of Algerian origin * David Koma, Georgian fashion designer based in London * Gaolese Kent Koma (1918-2006), Botswa ...

* Kisimani, Mafia * Kua Juani * Mwanamkuru *

Mbutu Bandarini Mbutu Bandarini Ruins( sw, Magofu ya mji wa kale wa Mbutu Bandarini) is a Medieval Swahili, National Historic Site located in Somangila ward of Kigamboni District in Dar es Salaam Region of Tanzania. Despite years of indifference that led to v ...

* Ras Dege * Kanyegwa Mfunguni * Ras Kutani * Jambe Juani * Chole * Jibondo * Kivinje * Mtitimira * Kilwa Kisiwani *

Songo Mnara Songo Mnara is a historic Swahiili settlement in located on Songo Mnara Island in Pande Mikoma, Kilwa District in Lindi Region of Tanzania. The island is home to a Medieval Swahili stone town. The stone town was occupied from the 14th to 16th ...

* Mivinja * Mkuje * Kikurwi *

Pemba Mnazi Pembamnazi, also known as Pemba Mnazi, is an administrative ward in the Kigamboni district of Dar es Salaam Region in Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a coun ...

* Buyuni Mbuyuni * Mwanakiwambi * Sanje Majoma * Sanje ya Kati * Majumbe * Kisawere *

Lindi Lindi is a historic southern Tanzanian coastal small city and regional capital of the Lindi Region located at the far end of Lindi Bay, on the Indian Ocean in southeastern Tanzania. The town is south of Dar es Salaam and north of Mtwara, ...

* Mchinga * Ngao Mwanya *

Mikindani Mikindani (''Mji wa kale wa Mikindani'' in Swahili) is a historic coastal town located in Mtwara-Mikindani District of Mtwara Region in Tanzania. The name comes from the Swahili word ''mikinda'' which means "young coconut trees". Therefore the ...

* Msemo * Kiruti Island * Boza Island * Ngevu * Mkungu

Zanzibar Island, Tanzania

Zanzibar Town Stonetown of Zanzibar ( ar, مدينة زنجبار الحجرية), also known as Mji Mkongwe ( Swahili for "old town"), is the old part of Zanzibar City, the main city of Zanzibar, in Tanzania. The newer portion of the city is known as Ng'ambo ...

Unguja Ukuu Unguja Ukuu (''Mji wa Kale wa Unguja Ukuu'' in Swahili) is a historic Swahili people, Swahili settlement on Unguja island (Zanzibar Island), in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Background Unguja Ukuu is an archaeological site on the island of Zanzibar. This ...

Kizimkazi Kizimkazi - officially Kizimkazi Mkunguni, but also known as Kizimkazi Mtendeni - is a fishing village on the southern coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania, and was once a walled city. It is situated three miles southeast of the Kizimkazi Mosque (which is ...

Mbweni, Zanzibar Mbweni is a town on the Tanzanian island of Unguja, the main island of Zanzibar. It is located on the central west coast, seven kilometres south of the Zanzibari capital of Stone Town. The town is a popular day trip for tourists and locals. Mbwe ...

Dunga Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri (born 31 October 1963), known as Dunga (), is a Brazilian football manager and former professional player who played as a defensive midfielder. Under his captaincy, Brazil won the 1994 FIFA World Cup and he lifte ...

Mkokotoni Mkokotoni is a city located on the Tanzanian island of Unguja (Zanzibar). The city serves as the capital of the Zanzibar North region Unguja North Region, Zanzibar North Region or North Zanzibar Region (''Mkoa wa Unguja Kaskazini'' in Swahili) ...

* Shangani * Pwani Deburi * Beit El Ras * Chuini * Kidichi *

Kizimbani Kizimbani (or Kisimbani) is a settlement of the Zanzibar Urban/West Region in Unguja, the main island of Zanzibar, Tanzania. It is located in the interior of the island, north-east of Zanzibar City. The remnants of old Persian public baths are fou ...

* Chukwani * Maharubi * Mbweni *

Tumbatu Tumbatu (''eneo la kale wa Tumbatu'' in Swahili) is historic Swahili settlement located on Tumbatu Island, Kaskazini A District of Unguja North Region in Tanzania. This site is a significant archaeological site that contains a large number o ...

Makunduchi Makunduchi is a Tanzanian town, located the southeastern tip of Unguja (Zanzibar Island), south of Jambiani, in the South District of the Zanzibar Central/South Region. The town comprises two distinct settlements, about 2 km from each oth ...

Mvuleni Mvuleni is a settlement in Kenya's Coast Province The Coast Province ( sw, Mkoa wa Pwani) of Kenya, along the Indian Ocean, was one of Kenya's eight provinces. It comprises the Indian Ocean coastal strip with the capital city at Mombasa and ...

* Chwaka *

Nungwi Nungwi, or Ras Nungwi, is a large village located in the far northern end of the island of Zanzibar. With a population of about 5,563, Nungwi is the second- or third-largest settlement on the island, possibly smaller than Makunduchi.Pfeifer, Kimbe ...

Fukuchani Fukuchani is a village on the Tanzanian island of Unguja, part of Zanzibar. It is located on the northwest coast of the island, between Kibaoni and Kendwa. As of 2012 census, the village had a population of 2,208 people, with a population densit ...

* Jongowe * Shungi * Uroa

Pemba Island, Tanzania

* Shengeju * Ndagoni * Chake * Pujini Ruins * Chwaka * Mandani *

Kichokochwe Ruins Kichokochwe ( Swahili ''Magofu ya mji wa Kale wa Kichokochwe'') is protected historic site located inside Wete District of Pemba North Region in Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano ...

* Verani *

Mkia wa Ng'ombe Mkia wa Ng'ombe Ruins (''Magofu ya mji wa Kale wa Mkia wa Ng'ombe'' in Swahili language, Swahili ) is protected historic site located inside Micheweni District of Pemba North Region in Tanzania. The settlement was established around the 15th CE a ...

* Kimeliani * Mduuni * Shumba *

Msuka Mjini Ruins Msuka Mjini Ruins ( Swahili ''Mji wa Kale wa Msuka Mjini'') is protected historic site located inside Micheweni District of Pemba North Region in Tanzania. Msuka Mjini has a Swahili mosque from the fifteenth century preserved in ruins on the Ki ...

* Makongwe * Kiwani * Jambangome * Mtambwe Kuu * Msuka * Shamiani *

Chambani Chambani (''Magofu ya mji wa kale wa Chambani'' in Swahili ) is a historic site and village located in Mkoani District of Pemba South Region. Its one of several National Historic sites on the island of Pemba. The site is located nine kilometr ...

* Kiungoni * Mtangani * Mkama Ndume *

Tumbe Tumbe (''Magofu ya mji wa kale wa Tumbe'' in Swahili ) is an early Medieval Swahili historic site next to the village of Tumbe located in Micheweni District of Pemba North Region. Between 600 and 1000 AD, the city of Tumbe served as the island' ...

* Finga * Kojani * Wingwi * Kiuyu * Vitongoje * Mitondoni *

Ras Mkumbuu Ruins Ras Mkumbuu Ruins (''Magofu ya mji wa kale wa Ras Mkumbuu'' in Swahili ) are located in Chake Chake district of South Pemba Region. They lie close to the village of Ndagoni at the end of a long narrow peninsula known as Ras Mkumbuu, which lies ...

South coast, Kenya

* Ngomeni * Mambrui *

Malindi Malindi is a town on Malindi Bay at the mouth of the Sabaki River, lying on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It is 120 kilometres northeast of Mombasa. The population of Malindi was 119,859 as of the 2019 census. It is the largest urban cent ...

* Mgangani * Gedi *

Watamu Watamu is a small town located approximately 105 km north of Mombasa and about 15 km south of Malindi on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It lies on a small headland, between the Blue Lagoon and Watamu Bay. Its main economic activities ...

* Kilepwa *

Kilifi Kilifi is a town on the coast of Kenya, northeast by road of Mombasa. The town lies on the Kilifi Creek and sits on the estuary of the Goshi River. Kilifi is capital of the Kilifi County and has a population of 122,899 (2009 census). Kilifi is ...

* Mnarani, Kenya * Kitoka *

Takaungu Takaungu is a historic Swahili town located on the Kenyan Coast between Mombasa and Malindi, in Kilifi County. It is 10 kilometres south of the town of Kilifi, in the Kikambala division. Takaungu is located at the Creek in Kilifi North Constitu ...

* Kinuni *

Jumba la Mtwana Jumba la Mtwana is the site of historical structures and archaeological relics on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya, lying close to the Mtwapa Creek, in Kilifi county, north of Mombasa Mombasa ( ; ) is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya ...

Mtwapa Mtwapa is a town located in Kenya's Kilifi County. It is situated north of Mombasa on the Mombasa-Malindi road. It is close to the Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve and Jumba la Mtwana. Two informal settlements in Mtwapa, Majengo and ...

* Kongowea, Mombasa * Mvita, Mombasa *

Kilindini Kilindini Harbour is a large, natural deep-water inlet extending inland from Mombasa, Kenya. It is at its deepest center, although the controlling depth is the outer channel in the port approaches with a dredged depth of . It serves as the harbo ...

, Mombasa * Tiwi * Diani *

Ukunda Ukunda is a coastal town in the southern part of Mombasa. It paves way into Diani Beach, a major tourist attraction. Location It is located in Kwale County, Coast Province, adjacent and to the immediate west of Diani Beach, along the Indian Oc ...

Gazi A ''ghazi'' ( ar, غازي, , plural ''ġuzāt'') is an individual who participated in ''ghazw'' (, '' ''), meaning military expeditions or raiding. The latter term was applied in early Islamic literature to expeditions led by the Islamic prophe ...

* Munge * Kifundi * Wassini *

Vanga The family Vangidae (from ''vanga'', Malagasy for the hook-billed vanga, ''Vanga curvirostris'') comprises a group of often shrike-like medium-sized birds distributed from Asia to Africa, including the vangas of Madagascar to which the family ...

* Vumba Kuu

North coast, Kenya

* Ishakani * Kiunga *

Mwana Mtama Mwana may refer to *Mwana (name) *Mwana Mwinga, a settlement in Kenya * Mwana Africa F.C., a Zimbabwean football club *Aie a Mwana "Aie a Mwana" is a song originally written by the French-Belgian writing and production team of Daniel Vangarde and ...

* Omwe * Mambore *

Uchi Juu Uchi is a contemporary Japanese sushi restaurant located in Austin, Texas which opened in 2003. The Japanese word "Uchi" translates to "house" in English, and the space is a refurbished home. Owner and chef Tyson Cole's menu consists of hot and ...

* Shee Umuro * Shee Jafari * Rubu * Simambaya * Sendeni *

Mvindeni Mvindeni is a settlement in Kenya's Coast Province The Coast Province ( sw, Mkoa wa Pwani) of Kenya, along the Indian Ocean, was one of Kenya's eight provinces. It comprises the Indian Ocean coastal strip with the capital city at Mombasa and ...

Kiwayu Kiwayuu (alternative spelling Kiwayu) is a small island in the eastern part of the Lamu Archipelago in the Kiunga Marine National Reserve in Kenya. Its main economic activity is fishing, and there is one school, no clinic and one well on the ...

* Ndau *

Faza Faza is a small town on the North coast on Pate Island, within the Lamu Archipelago in Kenya's former Coast Province. Faza was known by the name of Ampaza by the PortugueseSvat Soucek, « The Portuguese and the Turks in the Persian gulf » in '' ...

Kizingitini Pate (Paté) Island () is located in the Indian Ocean close to the northern coast of Kenya, to which it belongs. It is the largest island in the Lamu Archipelago, which lie between the towns of Lamu and Kiunga in the former Coast Province. T ...

* Tundwa *

Atu Atu may refer to: * Atu, a character in Samoan mythology * Atu Bosenavulagi, an Australian rules footballer * Atu, Iran, a village in Iran * Atu Moli, New Zealand rugby union player * Atu'u is a village on Tutuila Island, American Samoa ATU may re ...

Siyu Siyu is a settlement on the north coast of Pate Island, within the Lamu Archipelago in Kenya's Coast Province. The age of Siyu is not known, but it might date from the 13th century.Martin, 1973, p. 23 There are some other accounts that mentio ...

* Kitau * Shanga * Wange * Dondo * Bui * Pate * Magogoni * Kipungani *

Manda Manda may refer to: Places * Kafr Manda, Arab town in the Lower Galilee * Manda Upazila, an upazila in the Division of Rajshahi, Bangladesh * Manda, Kale, a village in Burma * Manda, Guinea, a town in the Labé Region * Manda, Jammu, India, ...

* Takwa * Shela * Lamu * Matondoni *

Mkunumbi Mkunumbi is a historic Swahili settlement in Kenya's Coast Province The Coast Province ( sw, Mkoa wa Pwani) of Kenya, along the Indian Ocean, was one of Kenya's eight provinces. It comprises the Indian Ocean coastal strip with the capital city ...

* Uziwa * Witu * Mea *

Al Famau AL, Al, Ål or al may stand for: Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Al (Aladdin), Al (''Aladdin'') or Aladdin, the main character in Disney's ''Aladdin'' media * Al (EastEnders), Al (''EastEnders''), a minor character in the British ...

* Bunta la Mwana *

Shaka Shaka kaSenzangakhona ( – 22 September 1828), also known as Shaka Zulu () and Sigidi kaSenzangakhona, was the king of the Zulu Kingdom from 1816 to 1828. One of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu, he ordered wide-reaching reforms that ...

* Ungwana *

Kipini Kipini is a historic Swahili settlement in Kenya's Coast Province The Coast Province ( sw, Mkoa wa Pwani) of Kenya, along the Indian Ocean, was one of Kenya's eight provinces. It comprises the Indian Ocean coastal strip with the capital city a ...

* Kau *