From the early 20th century, Satpanth Ismaili family homes spanned the African geography – the forests, grasslands, highlands, the Great Rift Valley, plateaux and deserts. Often their homes had a courtyard behind the family store and often the home-store had a small room furnished as a jamat khana. Often their home-store was on the only street and they were the only Asian African family in the area.
In the stores on the savannah, the Bais worked sorting and stringing ethnic beads. Many Satpanth Ismailis started their businesses in East Africa selling beads like my great grandfather, Rajan Nanji Pachani….More thebeadbai.blogspot.com.
Earlier related: Splendours of dawn in my English suitcase – by Sultan Somjee
