The Swahili people are made up of around 500,000 people who also go by the name Waswahili. This culture has existed for thousands of years, dating back to at least 100 AD when a Greek traveler wrote about the inhabitants and the culture he found while visiting a place in East Africa.
Remarkable facts about Swahili, language and culture
Swahili language
The language mainly spoken by the Swahili is called KiSwahili or Bantu. This language is originally derived from Arabic but is considered to be Bantu due to the language’s suffixes and roots. Only five million people speak this language as their mother tongue, but around 140 million people use this language to communicate. Many Swahili use their original language as a second language and English as their first language to communicate with others at school, in the workplace, or in other places.
Swahili city-states
Swahili people can be found in a small coastal strip in Kenya to Dar es Salaam. They can also be found in several islands in the Indian Ocean, Lamu, Tanzania, Mombasa and even North America, Europe and the Middle East.
Also, many Swahili cities existed between the coasts of Mogadishu and Sofala, including Mogadishu, Pate, Malindi, Zanzibar, and Kilwa.
Swahili religion
Almost all Swahili are Muslims and practice the Islamic religion. Swahili Muslims practice the Five Pillars of Faith, which are universal to the Islamic religion worldwide.
2. Pray five times a day
3. Fasting in the month of Ramadan
4. Giving to charity
5. Pilgrimage to the Holy City.
There are also Swahili people who believe in spirits; Men wear amulets around their necks to protect them from these spirits. Prophets and religion teachers are the only ones in the culture who become medicine men.
The children are expected to attend a religion course called a madrassa, where they learn the Arabic language, learn Korean and learn more about their religion.
Swahili symbols, flag
Symbols are associated with almost allculture, and Swahili is not left out. However, there has been controversy online regarding the Swahili symbols. The Swahili alphabet is the same as that of the English language. This is where the controversy comes in. Some foreigners who know little about Swahili have somehow misunderstood the Swahili language as a symbolic language. That’s not the case.
The Swahili do not have their own country and as such share the same flag (Bendera) as Kenya.
Swahili culture
Swahili culture is very humble, so a big problem that arises is tourists or travelers coming to their communities. Many drink alcohol and dress inappropriately, which has created problems in the culture. Many men have taken up incense, an issue that the culture has had to grapple with in recent times.
Business
For a few thousand years the Swahili people have traded third party between Africa and the other parts of the world. In the 1900s they played a large role in the ivory trade and slavery. Today, many people still rely on the trading industry, as well as fishing and agriculture.
occupation
While there are still jobs in the industry, many people cannot rely on these jobs to provide a reliable income for themselves and their families in agriculture and fishing. Without an education, many Swahili are forced to work in the tourism industry. Those with an education can find jobs in school, in the government system, or even work in local businesses or shops. Women earn their income by cooking, sewing or selling other things from their homes.
Swahili Village
Political system in Swahili
Since this culture is mostly Muslim, their political system is less formal and written out than many other cultures. They typically rely on the expertise and power of the older male members of the community.
holidays
Swahili celebrate all national holidays like Madaraka Day (Independence Day for Kenya), Farmers Day and Union Day to name a few. The main holidays they attend are the religious holidays, including Eid al-Fitr.
Relationships
Relationships are similar to those of other Muslim cultures. In Swahili culture there is usually no dating and no mixing of men and women. Women are encouraged to spend time together at home, while men are encouraged to spend time with others in public places. Respect for elders is huge in Swahili culture.
family
Family life among the Swahili is also similar to that in other Muslim cultures; The husband and father have authority within the home. Swahili women have some power in the family and decisions too. There are also many households where grandparents, parents-in-law, aunts and uncles, and other families live in one household.
entertainment
Weddings are the greatest form of entertainment for this culture. Women spend hours painting each other’s skin with henna on their feet and hands to attend a wedding. Movies are also a very popular way to spend free time.
Past Times / Hobbies
Craftsmanship and other artistic things are very common in culture. Men spend time creating hand-carved furniture such as doors and tables, and women also paint intricate patterns on these handicrafts.