2009/01/01 by Deborah Fahy Bryceson · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #African history and culture studies
paper · doi:10.1163/ej.9789004162648.i-308.67
openalex publication_date 2009/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/03/20
This chapter explores how willing indigenous ethnic groups were to 'share' the city, its land and amenities, with newcomers by comparing Kampala's and Dar es Salaam's ethnic foundations and their malleability in the urban growth process. Kampala refers to the kabaka s hunting ground. Kampalas indigenous population are the Baganda, who were the most powerful tribal kingdom in the lacustrine region. The Zaramo are considered the original African inhabitants of Dar es Salaam. It became the headquarters of the German East Africa Company. The next thirty years of German rule were decisive in setting the parameters for governance and resource access in Dar es Salaam. Key differences in ethnicity and urban growth patterns in the two cities are juxtaposed to illuminate why Kampala has been so volatile whereas Dar es Salaam has remained tranquil despite sharing historical roots in the divisive East African ivory and slave trade. Keywords: Baganda; Dar es Salaam; East Africa; ethnicity; German; kabaka ; Kampala; urban growth; Zaramo