Slave trade and Livingstone

Due to its strategic location, Bagamoyo (68km north of Dar-es-Salaam) became a staging point during the ivory and slave trading era.


It is the eighth World Heritage site of Tanzania (others being Kilimanjaro Mountain, Ngorongoro crater, Serengeti National Park, Selous game reserve, Zanzibar Stone Town, Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara, and the Olduvai Gorge).

 

The name Bagamoyo is said to be derived from the cry of slaves brought here after a long march from the hinterland to await auction and export, and means "bwaga moyo -here I lay down my heart"


The somber history of this once-great city is evidenced by remnants of the slave trade -shackle rings set in stone pits in which slaves were kept. Efforts are underway to develop its African Diaspora Heritage Trail product.

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Bagamoyo was also the first capital of Tanganyika during the German colonial rule until it was shifted to Dar-es-Salaam in 1892. While in Bagamoyo, visit the
Kaole ruins, the Roman Catholic historical museum and the chapel which housed Dr. Livingstone's body before it was shipped to Westminster Abbey in London. There is also a palm fringe sand beach with international hotel resorts.

 

History of Old Town

Salted fish, rice and copal (used to make varnish in Europe) became important trade in items, and the routes for this trade followed the old high-ground elephant routes, later taken by ivory traders, slavers, ...

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