Swahili Ancient DNA Discovered by Reseachers for the First Time, Learning More About its Heritage

Isaiah Richard, Tech Times 29 March 2023, 11:03 pm

Ancient Swahili DNA was recently uncovered by researchers, as it became lost through time and has been a significant conflict for modern-day people who identify as Swahilis. The study finally answers a long-asked question that has robbed Swahilis of their identity, with the study testing as many as 80 people from 800 years ago.

Swahilis are best known for living in the coastal area of East Africa, with their origins lost through history as they traveled from Kenya to Mozambique, amidst their massive trading practices in the past.

Swahili's Ancient DNA Discovered by Researchers for the First Time

(Photo : FREDRIK LERNERYD/AFP via Getty Images)

In a press release via EurekAlert, researchers have finally uncovered Swahili's ancient DNA after a rigorous study that started as much as 40 years ago. The Swahili civilization is a known prosperous trading state on the coasts of East Africa, with a significant history with many countries dating back to the 7th century.

Professor Chapurukha Kusimba from the University of South Florida dedicated 40 years of his like to studying this and helping uncover the mysteries behind the civilization.

Swahili civilization was not lost, rather, it had a hard time tracing its origins to who exactly started their culture, but with the recent research published in Nature, the team was able to uncover this with as many as 80 individuals buried in their settlements unearthed to help uncover the DNA.

A Life's Work for a Kenya-Native Anthropologist

"This research has been my life's work - this journey to recover the past of the Swahili and restore them to rightful citizenship," Kusimba, a Kenyan native, said. "These findings bring out the African contributions, and indeed, the Africanness of the Swahili, without marginalizing the Persian and Indian connection."

Kusimba's decade-long study of the Swahili civilization had him living with locals to help earn their trust and allow him to excavate burial sites, which their team needed to study.

Ancient Civilizations and People

Looking into the past will indeed reveal a lot about a person's heritage, identity, and behavior, as it proves to be a significant influence on who they are now. Still, it is important to note that the past does not define the future, as people may still change or live the way they want to be, only that it is a good-looking glass to know more about a certain culture or quirk.

Even before civilizations were formed, humans have proved to be resourceful in their different ways and techniques to use tools and anything found in the environment to help them live. There are still significant claims regarding humans evolving from monkeys, as evidenced by previous research which suggests it via similar tools by mammals.

Swahilis long questioned their identities as it was lost through time, but this recent study helps their community and culture regain what is rightfully theirs, as built and established by its ancestors. Kusimba made it his life's work to discover the real Swahili ancient DNA, being a Kenya native himself, to show the world its roots and origins in the past centuries ago.