Kaskasi
-From India to the Swahili Coast.
Film 1 travels with the Kaskazi from India via Oman to East
Africa. It shows how old the ties over the Indian Ocean are. It highlights
the historical heyday of the coastal cultures during the early Middle Ages
but "travels" always in the here and now. At open sea off the coast of Somalia
we find the old freight vessel "Swalihina", under the command of the weathered,
grumpy old captain Kame Fumo. From now on, he and his hardly sea-worthy dhow
lead through the films. It reaches Lamu. The old Swahili town is in the midst
of the celebrations for Maulidi (the Prophet's birthday). From there the "Swalihina"
continues its passage, loading freight in Mombasa. I passes the "clove-island"
Pemba and finally heads towards the Comoro islands, the "Moon Islands".
Kusi
- From the Moon Islands to Zanzibar.
Film 2 begins far off in the Indian Ocean on the solitary Comoros, the "Moon
Islands". It then moves up the Swahili coastline with the Kusi. A storm
throws the Swalihina off course. The vessel sets anchor near the ruins of
Kilwa, before setting off for Zanzibar. East Africa's famous island is the
film's main location. In the 19th century the Sultan of Oman ruled over
a vast commercial empire from here. Zanzibar was famous for its ivory trade
and infamous for its slave markets. In Zanzibar stowntown the film meets
the grandson of Tippu Tip, the biggest Zanzibarian slave trader. The film
joins his journey to Lake Tanganyika following the old slave route, deep
into the heart of Africa. Back in Zanzibar, Captain Kame is told that his
dhow is to be put out of commission. The Swalihina embarks on her last journey.
The films are
interested in the people along the route. We see old sailors in the Omani town
of Sur, a legendary port. In Lamu, Mariam and her girl friends have opened the
first internet-cafe. They want more freedom within the Islamic society without
leaving it behind. Said Wahka on Pemba island owns a clove plantation. Master
Yahyia has saved the art of door carving in Zanzibar from extinction and dhow
captain Kame Fumo is a relic of days long gone.
Ports like Sur, Mombasa or Zanzibar still breathe the air of Sindbad, the Sailor.
Travelling on dhows is like travelling through time, as their age has long since
passed. But some still sail, especially in East Africa, dhows like the "Swalihina"
which the film joins until its final journey.
The
films are available as vhs copy, info per e-mail
A popularized
version of the subject has been done for the int. market as a 4 x 28 min. version.
Sons of Sinbad
Coastal Culture at the Indian Ocean
sequel 1 - From India to Africa
sequel 2 - Along the Coast of Kenya
sequel 3 - Along the Coast of Tanzania
sequel 4 - From the Moon Islands to Zanzibar
