Kilwa Kivinje was a prominent maritime city-state that flourished between the 11th and 15th centuries, dominating the Swahili Coast and becoming a centre for trade in gold, ivory, and slaves. In the 19th century, the town was a terminus of the southern slave caravan route and served as a regional centre for the slave trade.
We walked through the little town with our guide (30,000 TZS), which we used for Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara. We explored Swahili ruins and a German colonial-era administrative centre where the Maji Maji Rebellion against them started in the early 20th century. A prominent German boma (administrative office) still stands as a symbol of this period, though the town’s importance declined after the end of World War II. We admired the lingering architecture and a memorial at the site where Tanzanian participants in the Maji Maji rebellion were hanged, reflecting a darker side of German colonial rule.
Little refreshment in a popular food joint around the harbour cost us 3,100 TZS (two Cokes and one big water) and 600 TZS for two chapatis.
