Barawa

Barawa, or Brava, on Somalia's southern coast is an old Swahili trading town whose people speak Chimwiini, a Bantu language related to Swahili and spoken essentially nowhere else, and it kept a distinct identity through centuries of Indian Ocean trade. Coral-stone buildings, mosques and narrow lanes make up the old town, with the reef and a lighthouse offshore. The fabric has suffered badly. Chimwiini is spoken by only a few thousand people and is classed as severely endangered.

History

Oral history says the town was founded by Aw-Ali of the Tunni. Barawa was known for its craftsmen, who wove alindi cloth and made the kufi baraawa cap, and it reached its golden age under the Ajuran Sultanate, which governed much of southern Somalia (Wikipedia, Barawa).

The main sights

• The Chimwiini language - a Swahili-related tongue spoken only here.
• The coral-stone town - the narrow lanes and buildings of the old quarter.
• The old mosques - the religious buildings of the trading centuries.
• The reef and lighthouse - the offshore features of the coast.

When to go

December to March is the cooler dry season. The rains fall around April to June and October to November. Heat outside the cool months is severe.

Practical notes

The old town has suffered severe damage and much is ruined. There is no tourist infrastructure. Travel requires arrangements made well in advance through local contacts.

Nearby

Merca is north, and Kismayo is south.

Key facts