"At the Cape of Good Hope, there is a flat mountain, which I call Mountain Qaf, that has wonderful waters and miscellaneous things in… ” said Abubakr Effendi in his Arabic-Afrikaans book Beyan al-Din in 1876.
Apart from this, there are many other unique historical sources for the history of southern Africa.
Indeed, South Africa’s history is often narrated through the lens of European exploration and colonisation, but an intriguing and lesser-known chapter lies in the Arabic sources that offer unique insights into the region’s past.
Long before the Portuguese arrived in the 15th century, Arab traders were navigating the eastern coast of Africa.
Arabic manuscripts and accounts reveal extensive trade networks that linked East Africa with the Arabian Peninsula and beyond. These networks were vital in spreading goods, culture and ideas.
The Swahili Coast, stretching from modern-day Somalia to Mozambique, became a melting pot of African, Arab, Persian, and later Portuguese influences, eased by these early interactions.
One of the most significant Arabic sources is the work of Al-Masudi, a 10th-century historian and geographer.
In his renowned book Muruj al-Dhahab (The Meadows of Gold), Al-Masudi describes the East African coast, detailing the prosperous trade in gold, ivory and slaves.
His writings provide a glimpse into the complex societies that thrived in this region long before European intervention.
Another notable figure is Ibn Battuta, the Moroccan traveller who visited the East African coast in the 14th century. His travelogue, Rihla (The Journey), offers vivid descriptions of the cities he encountered, such as Mogadishu, Kilwa and Mombasa.
These cities were bustling hubs of commerce and culture, showing the deep-rooted connections between Africa and the wider Islamic world.
Archaeological findings along the Swahili Coast corroborate these Arabic accounts. Excavations in places like Kilwa and Zanzibar have unearthed Chinese porcelain, Persian ceramics, and Arabian coins, indicating a sophisticated and far-reaching trade network.
These discoveries highlight the cosmopolitan nature of the region, influenced by various cultures through maritime trade.
Given that half of the continent uses Arabic, it’s time to consider Arabic sources as valuable data for African historiography.
* Halim Gençoğlu is a historian with PhD from UCT and is a post-doctoral fellow at Wits University.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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