If Kilwa and Songo Mnara made their fortunes mainly from their monopoly of the gold trade, further north a much sadder, but equally lucrative trade enriched the Arab merchants who controlled the Bagamoyo harbour port and the slave trade.

The earliest evidence of Arab presence dates back to the 13th century, while in the 16th century the monopoly passed into the hands of the Portuguese, until the 18th century, when the Omani sultanates took possession of the outpost, making the trade in ivory, salt and slaves flourish. The slave trade is linked to the name of the city, which in Swahili means ‘lay down your heart’.

Today, it is hard to believe that this quiet seaside town, which was briefly the colonial capital under German control, with its beautiful beaches and natural attractions, and its craftsmen specialised in dhows manufacture, had such a sad past, were it not for its many vestiges to remind us, architectural documents that are inseparable in the historical memory of these places.