A historical, linguistic and literary study

 

 

The research is one of a series of studies the researcher thought to present in the form of historical annals or a chronology of the East African region, the region where the Swahili language is widely spoken. The study highlights the position of the language and its literature during the era of the Omani rule of East Africa.

 

The aim of the study is to cover the shortage in such kind of studies in the Swahili and Arab library together and to enable the reader to try to have a link between the history of nations in progress and decline as well as the history of language during diffusion and degeneration. The Swahili nation during the Omani rule witnessed stabilization and opulence (especially in agriculture and trade), with it the language and its literature in strength and circulation.

 

The reader, however, will witness – as does the researcher – some historical paradoxes which need more research. The most outstanding of these paradoxes are the following historical facts.

 

It is historically known that the Swahilis themselves turned to the Omanis to help them drive out the Portuguese from East Africa. When the Omanis responded to the call and came to the rescue of the Swahilis they found that al-Mazara'a tribe in Mombassa (a tribe of Omani origin migrated with others to East Africa, settled in there and became totally Swahili with the native population) represents the largest tribe there in number and richness.  The Omanis then decided to appoint the Wali representing Oman's Imam in Mombassa from al-Mazara'a tribe. Imam Seif Ben Sultan al-Ya'erbi appointed Nasser Ben Abdulla Ben Mohamed Abdulla Ben Kilan al-Mazro'ee as the Wali of Mombassa in 1698.

 

An Englishman called Cock mysteriously established relations with al-Mazara'a in Mombassa and came close to them. With his appearance al- Mazara'a's condition went upside down. Their relations with the Omanis fluctuated between submission and rebellion. One time they submitted to the Omanis and another time they rebelled against them. So did their followers in the east of the continent most of the time (especially in Bati and Bemba),

 

Al-Mazara'a in Mombassa and Bati ended with attacking Lamu in 1812 in a famous battle called Shila to submit Lamu to their influence. But Lamu resisted and defeated them. It remained loyal to the Omanis and even requested the Omanis to provide them reinforcements which the Omanis did and supplied them with a garrison and a fort.

 

Since the intervention of the Englishman Cock with al-Mazara'a and after him Captain Owen of the English navy in the region who also established close relations with them the seed of dissention grew between al-Mazara'a and the Omanis, a seed watered by tempting al-Mazara'a to replace the Omanis with the aid of the English to dominate the area.  Wali Soliman Ben Ali Ben Osman al-Mazro'ee declared his challenge to the Omanis and asked Captain Owen in 1834 to impose his protection on Mombassa. Owen gave Wali Soliman the protection he asked for in a way that could serve as a dramatic work.

 

The request of protection was the first English nail in the coffin of the Omani rule of the region and its fall into the hands of the English colonialists. The result was the loss of the whole Swahili economy, its language and its literature. The English extended their protection to the whole of East Africa imposing it on Zanzibar in 1890 and not Mombassa alone. The study will cover this and others in detail and analysis.