Bagamoyo

Bagamoyo is a small town on the Tanzanian coast. Its name derives from the Kiswahili word bwagamoyo meaning: Lay down your heart. It is a reminder that this was the point of no return, the terminus of the slave trade caravan route from Lake Tanganyika where the captives were loaded onto dhows and shipped to Zanzibar for sale to Arab buyers.

Nowadays, everyone is welcome to Bagamoyo, the small coastal town and centre of dhow sailboat building. Visit the former headquarter of the German colonial administration and take part in a historical tour: Many colonial buildings in town have remained and there is a local museum displaying relicts of the slave trade as well as informations about early European Africa travelers like Stanley, Burton, Speke and Livingstone.

The town is located about 75 km north of Dar es Salaam. It is a 3 hour journey by bus.

Bagamoyo is known as the arts capital of Tanzania, home to the Bagamoyo Art College of Arts (Chuo ch Sanaa) which is the center for many artist cooperatives, crafstmen and art groups in the city. Each year in October it is held the Bagamoyo Arts Festival which attracts visitors from all over the world. For five days, the town is buzzing with art excibitions and workshops combined with traditional dance and music performances, concerts and much more. It definetaly worths a visit during this time of the year.