Summary and History of the Swahili culture
Swahili people are based in the coastal parts of Kenya and Tanzania. They resulted from the association between Arabs and Bantu people in the early dates. The Swahili people majorly have houses made of coral rag and coral stone that has replaced the circular mud-and-wattle buildings in other regions. They live in villages. In the early ages, they participated in trading.
In the recent years, they make a living through the tourism activities taking place in the Coast region. Also, the trading activities are still vibrant. Other activities included ivory and slave trade in the pre-colonial days. These days, they participate in industry, fishing and farming activities too. Therefore, Swahili people are accustomed to residing with foreigners in their midst, and they have regularly acted as middlemen in trade connections. Also, they have consolidated many people and activities into their vibrant social world.
Most of Swahili persons are Muslims. They became Muslim by the influence of persons coming from the Northland and also from beyond the Indian Ocean. They have formed vast economic, social and political relations with Middle Eastern Muslims.
During their free time, women hand paint each other’s skin and paint made crafts. Most of these crafts are made by men. These include doors, tables and other features.
Swahili people use Kiswahili as their "mother tongue," and it indicates their varied origins and complex history. The language incorporates many words adopted from Arabic and other languages, yet its grammar and arrangement place it in the Bantu language group, which has origins on the African continent. Like many Kenyans, Swahili people also use English in their daily communications, particularly in schools, government departments, and the tourism industry.
In terms of dressing, women wear a black, floor-length cloak with an attached veil, called a buibui. Also, they can wrap themselves with cotton clothes around their waists known as kanga or leso. Men wear striped clothing (kikoi ) around the waist that hangs to the knees. As a mark of being Muslim, some men sported small white caps with elaborate tan embroidery. In the recent times, men have accustomed to wearing Western-style shirts and trousers. Long, white caftans are worn on Fridays.
Their type of music is known as Taarab which is a music genre common in Tanzania and Kenya. The culture of these people influences the way the music is done and through Taarab, many aspects of the community are revealed.
