A team of 11 Chinese archaeologists will arrive in Kenya to begin the search for an ancient shipwreck and other evidence of commerce with China dating back to the early 15th century. The sunken ship is believed to have been part of a mighty armada commanded by Ming dynasty admiral Zheng He, who reached Malindi in 1418.
The project will centre around the tourist towns of Lamu and Malindi and should shed light on a largely unknown part of both countries' histories.
The project forms part of a recent effort by the Chinese government to celebrate the achievements of Zheng, a Muslim whose ships sailed the Indian and Pacific Oceans many decades before the exploits of more celebrated explorers such as Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama. Starting in 1405, Zheng made seven journeys, taking in south-east Asia, India, the Middle East and Africa and dished out gifts from the Chinese emperor, including gold, porcelain and silk. In return, he brought home ivory, myrrh, zebras and camels. But it was a giraffe that caused the biggest stir.
The archeological team will try to locate the Sultan's original village, for this reason were DNA tests and the tests reportedly showed evidence of Chinese ancestry comming from a handful of ship`s survivors that later they created a community of African-Chinese whose descendants still live in the area. This is clear evidence the first contact between China and east Africa.
