Valuing the Swahili Cultural Heritage: A Maritime Cultural Ecosystem Services Study from Kilwa, Tanzania

ABSTRACT

During the second millennium CE, the medieval settlements of Kilwa in southeastern Tanzania were part of the Indian Ocean trading system that left a clear physical legacy of stone towns along with oral histories and sailing traditions. Modern developmental activities including exploration of oil and gas, house building, and establishment of tourism infrastructures have led to the reuse of heritage site, hence, an inevitable pressure upon heritage preservation. Unfortunately, despite being outdated and very colonial, legislations enacted to support protection of heritage sites are inadequately enforced. This paper looks at complementary conservation challenges by considering the value of medieval monuments and intangible heritage assets within the ecosystem services. We also provide some suggestions on how exploitation of non-material benefits in the form of Cultural Ecosystem Services from legends based on intertidal limestone features resembling boats and giants, as well as the venerated baobabs and mangroves can become sustainable.

KEYWORDS:

• Kilwa Kisiwani
• kiswere
• ecosystem services
• monuments
• maritime heritage

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to John Kanyingi, Dr Joost Fontein (BIEA), Prof Justin Willis (University of Durham), Rahma Mpangala, Michael Kibona, Noel Lamarc, Maria Gauna and Zaria Abdullah (former students at University of Dar es Salaam), and Antiquities Representatives Mohammed Chidole, Mercy Mbogela and Charles Bwaiye for supporting the research. The Tanzanian Commission for Science and Technology and Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism issued fieldwork permits. Funding for this work came from the British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA), the British Academy, Rising from the Depth Network, Gerda Henkel Foundation and the University of Dar es Salaam.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Allegedly the footprint was 1 m long.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Elgidius B. Ichumbaki

Elgidius B. Ichumbaki is a Senior Lecturer in Archaeology and Heritage Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He coordinates various projects under the umbrella of Urithi Wetu (Our Heritage) whose main aim is to work with various communities in Tanzania to understand the meanings of heritage, preserving it, and using it to improve communities’ livelihoods.

Edward Pollard

Edward Pollard is a maritime archaeologist and geoarchaeologist who has worked in coastal and underwater environments around the Mediterranean, Indian and Atlantic Oceans. He also undertakes coastal and inter-tidal research in eastern Africa to the underwater environment using marine geophysics and diving around medieval settlements in Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique.