Who Are the Bajuni?
The Bajuni are a Swahili-speaking maritime people indigenous to the Bajuni Islands and adjacent coastline of southern Somalia and northern Kenya. Part of the broader Swahili civilization that flourished along the East African coast, the Bajuni developed a distinctive culture based on fishing, sailing, and trade. Their islands lie along ancient maritime routes connecting Africa, Arabia, Persia, and India.
Historically, the Bajuni were renowned sailors and fishermen who built wooden dhows without nails, using only coconut fiber to bind planks. Their intimate knowledge of monsoon winds, currents, and marine life sustained communities for centuries. Today, conflict in Somalia and political marginalization in Kenya have displaced many Bajuni, creating diaspora communities while threatening traditional lifeways.
The Bajuni Islands
The Bajuni archipelago stretches from Kismayu, Somalia to Lamu, Kenya—a chain of coral islands, sand cays, and mangrove-fringed coastline. The main islands include Chovaye, Ngumi, Ndoa, Chula, and portions of the Lamu archipelago. These islands provided protected harbors, fresh water, and agricultural land supporting permanent settlements.
Bajuni towns featured stone architecture, mosques, and markets reflecting centuries of Indian Ocean trade. The towns of Kismayo, Brava, and smaller island settlements formed part of the Swahili coast trading network that extended from Mozambique to Somalia. Archaeological remains testify to connections with Arabia, India, and China.
Maritime Traditions
Bajuni men were skilled fishermen using specialized techniques for different species and seasons. Traditional fishing methods included handlines, fish traps, spearing, and use of the distinctive mtori (outrigger canoe). Knowledge of fish behavior, lunar cycles, tides, and seasonal patterns was passed from father to son.
Dhow building was a prestigious craft, with master builders (fundi) constructing vessels for fishing and coastal trade. The jahazi and mashua boat types, built from mangrove poles and planks stitched together with coconut fiber, were perfectly adapted to local conditions. These skills are now endangered as fiberglass boats replace traditional craft.
Language and Culture
The Bajuni speak Kibajuni, a northern dialect of Swahili with distinctive vocabulary related to maritime life. The language preserves Arabic, Persian, and Portuguese loanwords reflecting centuries of Indian Ocean contact. Poetry, songs, and oral traditions encode cultural knowledge about navigation, fishing, and proper behavior.
As Muslims, the Bajuni incorporate Islamic practice with local traditions. Spirit beliefs, traditional medicine, and customs surrounding the sea coexist with Islamic observance. Important life events—birth, marriage, death—are marked by ceremonies blending religious and cultural elements. The annual maulidi celebrations are particularly important.
Displacement and Diaspora
The collapse of the Somali state in 1991 devastated Bajuni communities. Militias seized their islands, forcing mass displacement. Many fled to Kenyan refugee camps or migrated to Mombasa and beyond. Those who remained faced harassment, extortion, and violence. The former Bajuni islands are now largely depopulated.
In Kenya, the Bajuni face a different challenge: many are denied citizenship and face deportation despite generations of residence. Their Somali-sounding dialect and Muslim identity make them targets of suspicion during anti-terrorism operations. Statelessness compounds displacement, leaving the Bajuni among East Africa's most marginalized communities.
References
- Nurse, D. & Hinnebusch, T.J. (1993). "Swahili and Sabaki: A Linguistic History"
- Horton, M. & Middleton, J. (2000). "The Swahili: The Social Landscape of a Mercantile Society"
- Cassanelli, L.V. (1982). "The Shaping of Somali Society"
- UNHCR Reports on Bajuni Statelessness