Travel Guide Bagamoyo

Bagamoyo was for a long time the nerve centre of the Arab slave trade in East Africa. For this reason, its meaning in Swahili is " lay down your heart " (Bwaga-Moyo). Numerous caravans accompanied the unfortunate ones who had survived the grueling marches and were sold, traded and sent to the islands of Zanzibar mainly, but also Pemba to be sold mainly in Arabia. The Shiraz Arabs (from Persia) arrived here in the 13th century (5 km south of the present town), at Kaole: they built important constructions. Despite the establishment of the Sultanate of Oman in Zanzibar, Bagamoyo remained an important port, thanks to this trade (slaves, ivory...). It was also from Bagamoyo that the expeditions of Livingstone, Burton, Speke, Stanley and Grant left. In 1868, with the agreement of the Sultan of Zanzibar, the Spiritan Fathers established themselves there and built an important mission, which is well worth a visit. The missionaries set up an orphanage for the children of slaves and gathered many freedmen. Later, as the latter were the only Christians on this Muslim coast, they did not want to be recognized as former slaves and many converted to Islam. The prosperity of the mission attracted the Germans, who were looking for colonies. In 1889, a local chief, Abushiri, from the village of Nzone, 10 km to the north, led a revolt, but was defeated after a few months by the Germans' Sudanese and Zulu troops, and hanged at Pangani. Then the Germans signed an agreement with the Sultan: East Africa became a colony. The city was then abandoned in favour of Tanga. Bagamoyo has kept its colonial charm despite its advanced dilapidation. The streets are punctuated with old houses with beautiful carved doors. When the child of the country, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, became the president of the nation in December 2005 (and until 2015), asphalt came, as if by magic, to line the roads of the city