What is the East African coast called?

The Swahili Coast—a narrow strip of land that stretches along the eastern edge of Africa from Somalia in the north to Mozambique in the south—is an area with a long and unique cultural history. 3 – 12+

What is the difference between Zanzibar and Tanzania?

It’s a partly self-governing state in Tanzania; it’s not an independent country. The archipelago was once the separate state of Zanzibar, which united with Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania. Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous within the union, with its own government.

What is the origin of Kiswahili?

The language dates from the contacts of Arabian traders with the inhabitants of the east coast of Africa over many centuries. Under Arab influence, Swahili originated as a lingua franca used by several closely related Bantu-speaking tribal groups.

Why did Swahili convert to Islam?

Arab traders first introduced Islam to the Swahili coast in the ninth century. Appreciating its religious value, the Swahili people also recognized that adopting their neighbor’s religion would help their trading relationships as well, granting them new access to trade networks.

Which country is the most developed in East Africa?

Kenya
Although Kenya is the most industrially developed country in East Africa, manufacturing still accounts for less than 20% of GDP.

Which is the biggest country in East Africa?

10, 1963; United Republic of Tanzania, April 27, 1964. AREA: Area: 362340 square miles. It is the largest East African country.

Can you drink alcohol in Zanzibar?

Drinking Laws — On mainland Tanzania, alcohol is sold in bars, hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets with no restrictions. The exception is the coast and Zanzibar, where, away from the large resorts, small Muslim-owned restaurants generally do not offer liquor.

What part of Zanzibar is best to stay?

North-East Coast The northeast is the prime location for pristine beaches, diving, and top-end accommodation. With some of the best reefs off Mnemba Island, just 1km from the shore, you can find some excellent diving and snorkeling spots. Mnemba Island is also a nesting place for green turtles.

What is the difference between Swahili and Kiswahili?

While “Swahili” can refer to the people, the culture, and the language, it is the commonly accepted way of referring to the language when speaking (or writing) English. When speaking the language, the language is called Kiswahili. By contrast, the people are referred to as watu waswahili, and the culture is uswahili.

What is the religion of the Swahili people?

This group was known as the Shirazi. Today, most Swahili people are Sunni Muslims. It is the largest group within the religion of Islam. The Swahili Coast peaked during the medieval period.

Why did Islam spread so quickly?

The religion of Islam spread rapidly in the 7th century. Islam spread quickly because of the military. During this time, on numerous accounts there were military raids. Trade and conflict were also apparent between different empires, all of which resulted in the spreading of Islam.

What is the name of the eastern part of Africa?

Africa: Eastern Africa. Eastern Africa can also be divided into several regions. The northern mountainous area, known as the Horn of Africa, comprises Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia. In the east is the arid Somali desert.

Which is the national language of East Africa?

Swahili, the national language, is a composite of several Bantu dialects and Arabic that originated along the East African coast and on the island of Zanzibar.

What kind of people live in eastern Africa?

Eastern Africa is populated by 160 different ethnic groups or more, depending on the method of counting. Most of the peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia—and some of those in Tanzania and Kenya—speak languages belonging to the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic languages.

How is Swahili related to the Arabic language?

Swahili is a language that fuses African Bantu with Arabic. Arab sailors and traders have established links and ties with East Africa for centuries, their language strongly merged with the local language to produce a creole derivative.

What is the East African coast called? The Swahili Coast—a narrow strip of land that stretches along the eastern edge of Africa from Somalia in the north to Mozambique in the south—is an area with a long and unique cultural history. 3 – 12+ What is the difference between Zanzibar and Tanzania? It’s a partly…