
The Banadir and Ancient Yemen
In this transcribed oral history recorded originally from a Bajuni Shaykh, we learn of a story that details the origin of many towns on the Banadir as well as the Swahili coast. Introduction The author is Shaykh Fāḍil bin ʿUmar al-Bawrī from Pate Island in Kenya which is close to the border with Somalia. The text is the Kawkab Al Durriya li Akhbār Ifrīqiya (The Sparkling Stars of the History of Africa) written in 1913. Included is the exploits of some Tubbas (Kings) of ancient Himyar – archeological research does in fact show a Pre-Islamic Arab presence in the region. There lies