Ancient DNA illuminates Swahili culture’s origins

Genomes point to the diverse origins of Swahili culture, with people carrying a mix of local African, Middle Eastern and South Asian ancestry. Researchers analysed the genomes of 54 individuals buried in Kenya and Tanzania between 1250 and 1800 and found that they were descended from people who began mixing around 1000. Nearly all the East African ancestry seemed to come from women, whereas most of the Asian ancestry was contributed by men from Persia. The results support the oral traditions of Swahili people and dispel the colonial idea that Swahili civilisation is “essentially an Arab civilisation”.