Understanding Swahili cultures. Some critical remarks.

East Afiica and in particular the coastal region has been attractive for many researchers from the colonial period to the present times. Foreign researchers mostly from Europe and America have come to the Swahili coast with much curiosity on a wide range of subjects. Beginning in the 19th century when Africa was regarded by Europeans as `the dark continent` inquisitive geographers, prospective traders, colonial administrators and Christian missionaries came to satisfy their curiosity. On top of their duties they also embarked on research on various desciplines, in particular geography, linguistics, anthropology, and history. Their findings were then compiled in the form of books and theses which today form the basis of our reference