9.3 ? The Swahili Coast of East Africa Introduction A series of trading ports (part of the Indian Ocean network) developed along the coast and islands between the Horn of Africa and Mozambique Town residents were influenced by Islam, but most of the general population remained tied to traditional ways The Costal Trading Ports Bantu-speaking migrants had reached and mixed with indigenous Africans Immigrants from southeast Asia had migrated to Madagascar With the rise of Islam, individuals from Oman and the Persian Gulf settled in coastal villages; mixed Bantu and Islamic culture (Bantu Swahili language) emerged in string of urbanized trading ports. They exported raw materials in return for Indian, Islamic, and Chinese luxuries