Human Settlements and Architecture of Old Buildings in Historic Stone Towns – A Case of Bagamoyo Tanzania

Abstract

This study focused on early human settlements and architecture of old buildings in historic stone towns of the East Africa coastline which covers a stretch of three thousand kilometers. The aim was to document and provide knowledge on early human settlements to inform the present and future generations. Case study research method was selected to be the most suitable strategy for this study. The method involved intensive field surveys in Mombasa, Zanzibar and Bagamoyo stone towns. These three towns were selected because they are more abundant in information compared with other stone towns. Data collection tools included literature review, life histories, retrieval of archival records, and photographic registration. The current condition and future potentials on regeneration of the historic core and adaptive reuse of individual buildings was investigated. The research found out that the East African coastline was settled as early as the 6th century and had swahili architecture which based on local building materials-namely stones, sand, lime and mangrove poles; indigenous construction skills and local climatic conditions. The swahili architecture was later enriched by Arabs, Indians, and Persians to build residential and institutional buildings such as palaces, forts, schools and mosques. Old buildings in Bagamoyo stone town are currently neglected but holds strong ethnographical symbols on their doors in respect of social, cultural, religious meanings. These symbols acted as a unifier among diverse people's backgrounds in Bagamoyo stone town.