The background of the issue
Shirazi people are a sub-clan of the Swahili speaking community found on the East African coast. These people are mainly found in Zanzibar and Pemba. Documentations and customs of these people show that they are descendants of traders from Persia (Shirazi) who came to the coast and became settlers. On the other hand some scholars are doubtful of the asserted Persian (Shirazi) origin. It is also true that there are a number of dissimilar traditions and cultures explaining the settling of the Persian merchants and communities in the 7 urban centers found on the East African Swahili coast. These groups of people just like the other Swahilis are Sunni-Muslims. A number of ruined old towns are also accredited to the Persian and Shirazi settlers which include Pemba and the ruins at Tongoni.
Many researchers have regularly viewed the Swahili people on the Coast of East Africa as descendants of the Arabs, who came to East Africa via the Indian Ocean in a period of more than 2000 years. There is some evidence of sorts in this belief, because of the nature of the Arab and Swahili cultures. More proof is also found in their religion and the fact that they are found on the coast where trade was carried out. Another proof is that the cultures of these people have little similarity with that of the other Bantu speaking people found on the mainland. Historians have so far failed to pinpoint the exact origin of the Swahili. They have not yet established the link between the Swahili culture and that of their fellow Bantu speakers. They are also unsure of the fact that the Arabs carried with them the ideas and way of life found in the Swahili community. This matter is further complicated by the fact that there are several other Bantu speaking people who speak the language very close to the Swahili. These people too have a way of life with close resemblance to that of the Swahili speaking people. These people are like the Mijikenda found in Kenya. As shown by Thomas Spear (292), the Swahili language has the same structure as other Bantu languages and even the literature in this language replicates an African oral one. Therefore as discussed by Spear, it is indeed hard to determine whether this language originated from Arab and Persia.
The author’s thesis and the research question the author set to answer.
The author’s thesis is that, indeed, it is hard to establish if this language originated from Arab and Persia or has Bantu origins. The research question is that, the author seeks to find out the origin of this language and culture.
The sources the scholar used
The author used thirty one sources most of which are based on the local and surrounding communities. He also uses a few outside sources and archives.
The claims made within the overall argument
In this argument, there is no specific one way discussion which shows that the Swahili are either of the Arab and Persian origins or are originally Bantu speaking people. There are claims though that, the Swahili came from the northern part of the East African coast and that they were there long before the Arabs came to the Coast. Another claim is that, it is the Arabs brought about this language by means of intermarriage with the local people and therefore injecting their culture into the local people.
Specific evidence used to support those claims
Both sides have substantial evidence showing that they are responsible or are the pioneers of this language. For example the Arabs show their relationship with this language by the resemblance in their culture, religion and some words that the two languages share.
Conversely as shown by Spear (292), other Bantu languages have even more words that are the same with the Swahili words. Some of these are like the Mijikenda and Pokomo found in Kenya. Another aspect of comparison as shown by spear is that fact that the Swahili language’s grammatical structure and pronunciations tend to incorporate more of Bantu dialect than the Arab one.
Discussion of claims, evidence, and other important points
There are very important points shown by Spear on page 192. Here it is clear that the Swahili is a Bantu language, there is also a relation in the ways the Bantu speak and pronounce their words. The Arabic influence on the other hand is mostly shown by means of interaction and the settlement of the Arabs at the coast. The interaction is evidenced by the stories showing how the Arabs arrived at the coast. This influence is shown by the presence of their culture and some words minted into Swahili. The issue of ugwana and later ustaarabu, showing how the Swahili people carry themselves differently from their fellow Bantu speakers who act ushenzi, is only an aspect brought on board by the Arab culture and thus lacks significance.
Examples and stories used to illustrate points
The stories used to illustrate the justifiability of the Shirazi as descendants from Persia mainly explain how the Persians came to be found on the coast of East Africa and their consequent intermarriage with the locals. As shown by Spear (196), there was an inhabitant Muli on Kilwa. The man was a hunter and one day while hunting he came back to find Ali ibn al-Hassan who had travelled with 6 of his brothers and their father on the island. He requested Muli if he could stay, he accepted on the condition that he could circle the island with colored clothes. After doing this, Muli took the clothes to the mainland and upon his return Ali had dug a deep trench which means he could not come back to the island. All the stories told in this journal show how the Persians came to the coast, intermarried with the locals and used their wealth and trickery to acquire land and at the same time drive off the original inhabitants.
The author’s significance of the thesis
The author’s significance of the thesis is mostly shown by the presence of the Arabs on the Swahili coast and the consequent formation of the Swahili culture. It is evident that without the Arabs, the Swahili culture would not be as it is today.
What I have observed and what I still need to know
I have keenly observed that, this culture was only noticed at the time when the Arabs arrived at the coast. What I still need to know is whether this language prior to the arrival of the Arabs or whether it was coined to ease communication because of trade.
Observations that need follow up and the question I still have
What needs follow up is the information on the majority of words used I the language (either Bantu or Arabic). The issue of intermarriage should also be censured to find out the complexion of most Swahili speakers to determine the validity on the issue of intermarriage.
Where I need more information about the topic
There is some more information that is needed on the topic. This is brought about by the information given that; Swahili was brought about by the intermarriage between Arabs and the local communities. If for example this was true, the scholar would have made out at least some sort of complexion of the Swahili people. They would have, at least a lighter complexion. This is because the Arabs are lighter skinned and the Bantus are dark skinned, therefore the intermarriage would have produced a lighter complexion.
Have new questions been raised
The author does not raise a lot of new questions; but still the question of complexion carries the day. If at all the Swahili culture originated from intermarriage why is it that up to now, most Swahili speaking people are of dark complexion.
Anything that challenges what I previously thought
There is a concept that indeed does challenge what I previously thought. This comes about by the fact that there is no particular proof regarding the origin of the Swahili. Most of the evidence shows its origin to about the time when the Arabs arrived at the East African coast. Therefore it might just be possible that, at this time of trade there was need to come to with one common language so that the people trading would communicate.
Any other sources to be considered
There must be other sources that could have been considered in this study. There are several countries on the East African coast with the Swahili speaking people. At least they should be having archival material on their people and the languages of these people. I did not see any use of governmental resources in this study.
How I can contact further research
There is the possibility of contacting further research. This can be done by contacting the respective countries having Swahili speakers to get archival information and documentation on their people. Research can also be conducted on the very people in the bid to extract any information whatsoever that could be helpful.
Works cited
Spear, Thomas. The Shirazi in Swahili Traditions, Culture, and History. History in Africa 11.1 (1984): 291-305. Print.