BAGAMOYO – TANZANIA
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Bagamoyo is a historic coastal town founded at the end of the 18th century. It lies on the Zanzibar Channel, 45 miles (75 km) northwest of Dar es Salaam.
PHOTO CAPTION: Bagamoyo. SOURCE: leopard-tours.com
From the late 18th century into the 19th century, Bagamoyo grew as an important trading port for goods such as ivory and, significantly, enslaved people being transported from the African interior toward the coast.
The name Bagamoyo itself is derived from a Swahili phrase meaning “lay down your heart.” This reflects the deep sorrow associated with the town, either because of the exhaustion and despair of caravan porters who rested there after long journeys or because of the emotional toll of the slave trade as captives were marched onward.
During the 19th century, Arab and African caravan traders brought enslaved Africans from inland regions, sometimes from far-off areas such as Morogoro, Lake Tanganyika, and Usambara to Bagamoyo’s shores. From there, captives were taken by dhow (traditional sailing vessels) to markets in Zanzibar and beyond.
