S6E4: Second Fiddle in East Africa

Shangaani District of Mogadishu, an area still featuring many of the city's medieval structures

While Kilwa would one day become the most significant part of the East African coastline, its early history consisted of the island's small settlements staying humble in scale and largely overshadowed by its distant northern neighbor - Mogadishu. 

Throughout the Medieval period, Mogadishu emerged as the most significant city on the East African coastline, despite its lack of a natural harbor. The city offered such an immense diversity of precious goods, and was in such a convenient location shortly away from a well-trafficked international trade route, that a small settlement like Kilwa struggled to peel off merchants from this well-established route.

Map of Kilwa Kisiwani and its Surroundings (from The Chronology of Kilwa Kisiwani, AD 800–1500

It would not be until well into the 11th century that Kilwa's geography, sitting in the middle of multiple river estuaries and a natural harbor, would begin to pay dividends. While the island would one day host a tremendously impressive urban complex, for the moment, it was still a humble settlement of small square houses, and a population consisting mostly of fishermen.