Called Azania in The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, AD50, which describes the already well-established trade links between Arabia and the East African Coast, The Land of Zinj was the name given to the coastal area between Southern Somalia and Northern Mozambique by the Arabs when they first began to settle around 500AD.
It has been this process of trade relations, Arab settlement, and cultural interrelations with its indigenous Bantu people that has given this coast its unique and fascinating character ever since.
Originally thought to denote "black" people, there is now much linguistic evidence to suggest that the name Zinj derives from zi/za - body of water or sea - and nji/nchi meaning territory or place.
From The Land Of Zinj is the project of an Anglo-Kenyan/Giriama couple, based in Mombasa who are dedicated to promoting East African coastal crafts in the West, and, above all, improving the lives of East African craftspeople at home.
All of the craftspeople of From The Land Of Zinj were unemployed or working only very sporadically before joining our organisation. Your support means REAL changes in REAL people's lives.
World Bazaar
African Bead Dog Collar
