From Mozambique to Somalia, the coast is dotted with historical settlements marked by a variety of language, culture, food, customs, religion and lifestyle that sums up Africa as not just the cradle of civilisation but the meeting point of civilisations.

For Prof Chapurukha Kusimba, this is more than just a historical anecdote, it is a passion.

As an anthropological archaeologist and research scientist, Prof Dr Kusimba is a man with a mission. He is digging through layers of history --literally -- to unravel the story of Africa and the historical South-South links, between Africa and Asia, which he says goes way back at least 3,000 years based on evidence buried in the sands of time.

Prof Kusimba is the vice-chair and curator at the Illinois University department of anthropology's field museum of natural history in Chicago -- where Kenya's infamous maneless Man Eaters of Tsavo are preserved. He counts US President Barack Obama as one of his colleagues.

Dr Kusimba's field of specialisation is Swahili culture, which he has been researching since 1986, with interesting results. "I am studying past human behaviour and culture through material remains left behind by past people as witness of their daily lives," he explains.

"If you were to ask Dr Leakey how far back we can trace human history, he would say six million years. But l'm looking at more specific evidence. In the East Coast of Africa, we can trace human history back to 10,000 years ago, which was the beginning of domesticated life and landscapes. It is also the time credited with the beginning of agriculture, pastoralism and trade.

"This era sees the bi-directional flow of cultural objects and foods through trade over wide regions of the world. l'm particularly interested in how domestic rice, coconuts, chickens and the Indian cow (Bos indicus) reached Africa from Asia and how African domestic foods like sorghum and millet reached Asia and became staples in countries there."

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