The Greeks of Lourenço Marques (Mozambique) in 1895

(excerpt from the book ‘The Greek community in Mozambique’)

In 1895, the Greek community of Lourenço Marques numbered 34 people. Most of them were workers, fishermen and traders and lived by the central railway station in Rua Araujo.

The Greek railway workers of Mozambique

(excerpt of the book ‘The Greek community in Mozambique’)


The first Greeks immigrated to Beira in 1890. They were mainly from Lemnos and Kasos and worked in the construction of the railway which would link Beira to Salisbury in the then Rhodesia (pr. Zimbabwe).
The Greek presence was crucial to the completion of the railway because of their expertise and their prior experience in similar projects both in Asia Minor and Egypt, but also because of their resistance to the difficult weather conditions and the dangers of the jungle.

La communauté grecque de Tunisie (16ème-21ème siècle)

La communauté grecque de Tunisie (16ème-21ème siècle)

Six ans après la première édition, l'histoire de la communauté grecque de Tunisie est désormais en français.
L'étude, qui présente pour la première fois l'histoire de la communauté grecque de Tunisie, est basée exclusivement sur des documents d'archives, résultat de la recherche en Grèce et Tunisie. C’est la première fois que les archives communautaires et consulaires ont été consultées.
Le livre est disponible auprès de l'auteur Antonis A. Chaldeos via email (anchald1997@hotmail.com)

The Greeks of Port-Sudan in the 1900s

The Greeks of Port-Sudan in the 1900s

(Excerpt from the book ‘The Greek community in Sudan’)

In 1906, 1,572 Greeks resided in Port Sudan when the total population of the city was 7,636 people. Apart from those worked in the construction sector, there were lots of merchants who represented the big trading houses of Khartoum. One of these traders was George Lorenzatos, who ran a store and bar with his brother.

Kosti: The ‘Greek’ city of Sudan

Kosti: The ‘Greek’ city of Sudan


(Excerpt from the book ‘The Greek community in Sudan’)


In a short distance from Ed Dueim, there is a small city, Kosti which was named by the Greek Costas Mourikis (1867-1937), who arrived in Sudan in 1899 together with his brother Chris. Mourikis settled by the Nile coast and opened a grocery store. As many of the locals built their huts close to him a new village was created that was named Kosti. Within the following decades, Kosti attracted contractors, merchants, bakers and cotton engineers

The Greek basketball team of Ethiopia

The Greek basketball team of Ethiopia

One of the most legendary teams in the sports history of Ethiopia was ‘Olympiacos of Addis Ababa’.
Not only did it win 18 championships in a row (1952-1970) but it also was the winner of African Champion’s League in 1964.

The Greeks of Vila Pery (Mozambique) in the 1890s

The Greeks of Vila Pery (Mozambique) in the 1890s

(Excerpt from the book ‘The Greek community in Mozambique’)

Apart from those who settled in Beira in the late 19th century, a few Greeks settled in Vila Pery and were involved in farming. They leased plots along the railway line towards the border with Rhodesia. It is estimated that the total area occupied by the Greeks was almost 40,000 acres. Some of the Greek pioneers were the brothers Dimitris, Paul and Panagiotis Babiolakis, Eugenios Koutsis, Kostas and
Kyriakos Katsoulis and others.

The Greeks of Eritrea in the 1880s

The Greeks of Eritrea in the 1880s

(Excerpt from the book ‘The Greeks in the horn of Africa’)


The first Greeks settled in Masawa of Eritrea in 1875, when the city was under the Egyptian rule. On 21/4/1886, 6,000 people lived in Masawa. Apart from the Somalis, the Arabs and the Ethiopians, there were also several hundred Greeks who controlled the commercial activity of the harbour, exporting mainly ivory. Climate conditions were very difficult due to the heat and humidity. There was only one hotel in the city that belonged to a Greek.

The Greek community of Burundi in the 1940s.

The Greek community of Burundi in the 1940s.

Members of the Greek community of Vila Pery in Mozambique in 1915.

Members of the Greek community of Vila Pery in Mozambique in 1915.

The Greek traders in Sudan of 1896

The Greek traders in Sudan of 1896


(Excerpt from the book ‘The Greek community of Sudan’)


In 1896, the army of Kitchener departed from Egypt and moved southwards. It was followed by some Greeks who provided the army with food and water. At that time, Wadi Halfa, on the border between Egypt and Sudan, was the end of the railway line that started from Cairo. Since the British wanted to construct a railway up to Khartoum, a distance of 910 km in the middle of the desert, a dozen of Greeks signed a contract with the British Army. Their responsibility was to provide the railway workers with water and food.

Τhe Greeks in Djibouti in 1900

Τhe Greeks in Djibouti in 1900

(Excerpt from the book ‘The Greek presence in the Horn of Africa’)

Apart from the railway workers, who were the majority of the Greek community in Djibouti, in 1900, several traders settled down. Most of them worked as representatives of international European companies or as ship chandlers. In the following years to come, as the Djibouti port evolved into the most important commercial hub of the entire Red Sea, more Greeks settled in the city.

The Greek hero of Ethiopia in the 1850s

The Greek hero of Ethiopia in the 1850s

(Excerpt from the book ‘The Greeks presence in the horn of Africa’)

George Photis settled in Ethiopia in 1850. He was assigned to the army of the king of Gotzam and received the honorary title balabaras (commander of the guard) for his bravery. He was then known as Giorgis Balabaras and followed the Ethiopian army in the battles against Mahdi in Sudan and against the Italians in Adwa in 1896. According to testimonies, he was the only European who fought alongside Ethiopians against the Italians.

The Greek presence in the horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia)