The Swahili people live in Tanzania and Kenya along the coastal towns of Mombasa and Malindi. They can also be found in some Indian Ocean islands like Pemba, Lamu and Zanzibar. The Swahili are Islam and most of their cultures including food, clothing and marriage are guided by religion. They speak the Swahili language also known as Kiswahili which is a mixture of Hindi, Arabic and Portuguese.

The Swahili people are Islam are therefore forbidden to eat pork or take any kind of alcohol. Since the Swahili live near the Indian Ocean, their main food is fish and rice. Their favorite dishes are Pilau and Wali. Pilau is a rice dish that is cooked with a variety of exotic spices like ginger root and garlic. Other ingredients in Pilau include beef, tomatoes, potatoes, onions and salad oil. Waliis also a delicious rice dish that is cooked in coconut oil and just like Pilau, it is served with thick meat stew or fish.  Goat meat and chicken are reserved for special occasions like weddings. There are other foods that can be found in the Swahili homes and they include beans, vegetables and fruits. They also grow coconuts and mangoes that are the sweetest in the whole of the East African region.

Online Swahili lessons for kids: dinolingo.com