Swahili Cultural Objects

There are a number of objects that characterize the daily life of the people living in the coast of East Africa. On this page you have a chance to read about these cultural objects. Our page is devoted primarily to Swahili handicraft particularly to those objects made by amateur artisans. Unfortunately those objects are disappearing and largely displaced by cheaper manufactured products.

Readers interested in other works of art should visit our Swahili Resources page to obtain links to other sites. The list is not exhaustive as it is difficult to cover all Swahili settlements stretching from southern Somalia to northern Mozambique. However we hope you can learn something about Swahili cultural objects. Furthermore, by documenting Swahili cultural objects we may contribute in conserving the rich Swahili heritage.

Household Objects

• Chano (pl. Vyano) - a thick wooden tray used for food serving, and for washing clothes.
• Chungu (pl. Vyungu) - a clay cooking pot.
• Kawa (pl. Makawa) - a food cover made of straw. Usually decorated with patterns of different colours and/or inscribed with a message just like kanga.
• Kata (pl. Kata) - a large scoop made of a coconut shell and a wooden handle for fetching water from shallow wells or from water vases (mitungi).
• Kinu (pl. Vinu) - a mortar, usually wooden, used to grind grains, pulses, spices, etc. and may be of different shapes and sizes depending on the nature of the material to be ground.
• Kumba or Kumbesa (pl. Makumba or Makumbesa) - makeshift doors made of wooven coconut leaves and a rope-supported frame of sticks.
• Mbuzi (pl. Mbuzi) - a coconut grater made of a wooden seat and a stainless steel plate with saw-like teeth around its edge.
• Mkeka (pl. Mikeka) wa Chole - a straw wooven mat. A must have for a new bride.
• Mkungu (pl. Mikungu) - a cooking pot lid made of clay. It is used to cover cooking pots.
• Mtungi (pl. Mitungi) - a large clay vase for keeping drinking water.
• Mwiko (pl. Miko) - a wooden stirrer, a must have for newly weds.
• Upawa (pl. pawa) - scoop(s) made of a lower cone of coconut shell and a wooden handle for stirring and serving soups, stews, porridges, etc.

Agriculture & Livestock

Communication & Transport

• Gari (pl. Magari) la shamba - an up-country truck with a wooden body and wooden passenger benchs, used especially in Zanzibar. This is also locally known as "mbavu za mbwa" literally meaning "dog's ribs" due to its shape.
• Ngalawa (pl. Ngalawa) - a canoe with balancing and floatation flaps on either side.

Fisheries, Forestry & Wildlife

• Dema (pl. Madema) - fish trap made of the fronds of raffia or other palm trees.
• Fyuka (pl. Fyuka) - A swing trap for rabbits, duikers, birds and other small wild animals. It is made of a strong elastic stick with one end securely planted on the ground and the other end bent in a semi-circular curve, held loosely in that position by a set of small sticks. The trap when disturbed, swings up and holds the catch by the noose.
• Tenga (pl. Matenga) - a trap for monkeys, civets, and other wild animals. It is made of wood.

Financial & Business

• Bweta (pl. Mabweta) - wooden safe.
• Pishi (pl. Pishi) - wooden or metal volumetric measure for grains, pulses, spices and cloves.
• Tajuri (pl. Matajuri) - boxes made of wood and/or metal used to keep valuables.

Other Objects

• Susu or Tundu (pl. Masusu or Matundu) - cages made of raffia fronds for keeping birds as pets. They may contain a trap that can be used to catch birds of a similar nature.
• Matarawanda - a pair of wooden sandals.